Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

I work with Insurance.



Recommended Posts

The amount you should owe will be determined by the facility your surgery is at. You'll have to pay your deductible at the very least but some facilities let you pay half of that upfront and be billed the remainder. It really depends on the policy of that specific facility.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you SO MUCH for your help! I have united healthcare Mdipa, in Virginia. I'm a federal employee. Do I have to have 6 months consecutive or will 2, 3 month programs qualify me for a sleeve?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sarah 82, I have Excellus SimplyBlue Plus Silver 10 and I cannot get an answer as to whether or not I need to have a 6 month supervised diet and weight loss plan. Is this something that you are able to check into? I've called the insurance company twice and they've emailed me paperwork but it is like reading a foreign language. At my first visit to the bariatric center, I brought all the paper work that insurance had emailed me and the nurse looked at it and said I was fine since my BMI was over 40. Then the same nurse asked me last week if my insurance required a 6 month supervision period.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you need help understanding your benefits, I can give you advice from the hospital/facility side of things. Part of my job is to get prior authorizations and calculate how much patients will owe for certain services.

Sarah, If my employer excluded all Bariatric procedures in our coverage, what options do I have?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you need help understanding your benefits, I can give you advice from the hospital/facility side of things. Part of my job is to get prior authorizations and calculate how much patients will owe for certain services.

Sarah, If my employer excluded all Bariatric procedures in our coverage, what options do I have?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You'll be considered a self pay patient. The only option you have is to find out how much the facility where the surgery will be will cost. They're who you'll have to pay upfront. Most facilities will give self pay patients a 50% discount off the total cost of the surgery. Then you'll probably be expected to pay half of that upfront. Where I had mine done, it would've been about $15k if I wouldn't have had insurance. That doesn't include any inpatient stay.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sarah 82, I have Excellus SimplyBlue Plus Silver 10 and I cannot get an answer as to whether or not I need to have a 6 month supervised diet and weight loss plan. Is this something that you are able to check into? I've called the insurance company twice and they've emailed me paperwork but it is like reading a foreign language. At my first visit to the bariatric center, I brought all the paper work that insurance had emailed me and the nurse looked at it and said I was fine since my BMI was over 40. Then the same nurse asked me last week if my insurance required a 6 month supervision period.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Sarah 82...I have Cigna insurance and they confirm they received my paperwork on March 2nd but I'm still pending. Almost all the post I've read about Cigna say they were approved in about 2 days. Is the fact that I'm going on week 2 and still pending a bad sign? When I called, they said it was being reviewed by a nurse and would then be reviewed by the medical director.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry I didn't get a notification with your post. If you still need help, send your name, dob, and insurance id to my email. I'll check your benefits from work this week. Sseelbach@live.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Sarah 82...I have Cigna insurance and they confirm they received my paperwork on March 2nd but I'm still pending. Almost all the post I've read about Cigna say they were approved in about 2 days. Is the fact that I'm going on week 2 and still pending a bad sign? When I called, they said it was being reviewed by a nurse and would then be reviewed by the medical director.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It sounds like it's just in medical review right now. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Also, policies vary so just because someone else with Cigna got theirs approved that soon doesn't mean yours would've been. Some insurances even have what's called a predetermine period and those can take up to 30 business days. If you'll send me an email with your full name, DOB, ID#, and the exact name of the insurance on your card I can look into it further this week at work. There may be something they're waiting on in order to process a decision. Sseelbach@live.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@@Sarah 82...I have Cigna insurance and they confirm they received my paperwork on March 2nd but I'm still pending. Almost all the post I've read about Cigna say they were approved in about 2 days. Is the fact that I'm going on week 2 and still pending a bad sign? When I called, they said it was being reviewed by a nurse and would then be reviewed by the medical director.

I also have cigna. The first time I submitted they came back with with a denial in less than two weeks. They added some more tests and I finished those and re submitted on March 1st. Still no word so I totally understand what your saying. All these others getting approval so fast and for us it's taking forever :(

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm new to this site and I have just browsing the comments to see if I can get answers to my questions. I currently only have Medicaid and I wanted to know is there any individual insurance that I can get personally that will cover this procedure?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If your Medicaid will pay for it, that's going to be your best option because you won't have any cost share. Also, idk what state you're in but for Texas, it's very rare that you would qualify for Medicaid if you've got commercial insurance. That said, yes, there are several insurances that have bariatric coverage.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Bashbee91

      Hey guys new to the process looking forward to this new life. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Bugg

      Hi everyone! I’m brand new here. I just went through all my pre-op requirements per my insurance company and now everything has been submitted and I’m just waiting for final approval and my surgery date. I’ve been doing research, watching YouTube videos, TikTok’s, ect.. trying to prepare my mind and what to expect so I’ll be ready for the surgery. I was so sure and so set and so ready and excited. However, now that I’ve done everything & it’s almost here, I am sooooooo scared! I know why I want it bc I’ve tried everything and I just don’t feel like I can lose weight by myself. I’m tired of being overweight my entire life. I’m miserable, but I keep psyching myself out afraid of GERD bc I know how that can be and I don’t want to have to get a bypass after already gaining the courage to even get VSG. I’m scared of complications like I’mgoing to regret doing it and be depressed that I didn’t just be more disciplined and try again to lose the weight on my own even sitting here typing this knowing in my mind i just can’t and don’t possess the discipline. I’m also afraid I won’t be able to handle the restrictions of the sleeve. What do I eat? I don’t know how to eat healthy really and don’t enjoy healthy food. I don’t know how to do this! I feel so defeated!Someone tell me they felt anything similar to this or am I not ready? I thought I was. I am so tired of being sick and tired and so tired of myself and so tired of being stuck and stuck in this body and somebody different on the outside from what I feel inside. I just want to ball up and cry.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • buildabetteranna

      over 20 lbs down since4 the pre surgery diet and surgery on the 14th
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        Yay!! Congrats. I know how good that feels. 🤩

    • Jenopolis

      Had a sleeve in 2017, lost over 100 pounds. Had a DS surgery this year (2025) for more sustainable weight loss. 🤞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • buildabetteranna

      The 14th was my day. I am home and recovery is going pretty smooth. They even let me walk out of the hospital. Picture of me in recovery curtesy of my boyfriend lol. 

      · 3 replies
      1. DaisyChainOz

        Glad it went well!! Wishing you a speedy recovery and wonderful success!! 🤗

      2. buildabetteranna

        Thank you ❤️

      3. Selina333

        Neat you have a pic of this day! I was sooo happy to get my surgery. It was well worth it! And I'm not even near my goal. I had surgery Dec. 2!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×