United Healthcare - question about the 6 month supervised diet req.

[HopefulonLI 14]

Just had my first appointment last month. They checked my insurance and I’m good to go, however if you’re a UHC person you know all about that exciting 6 month supervised diet thing. They told me all I have to do is weigh in once a month. That’s it. They’re not even asking me to diet. What I’m concerned about is, if UHC sees I’ve gained any weight will they deny my operation? The doctors office seems so nonchalant about it all I’m trying to figure out if it’s really this easy? My BMI is 41 btw.

[newbegjo1219 15]

5 hours ago, HopefulonLI said:

Just had my first appointment last month. They checked my insurance and I’m good to go, however if you’re a UHC person you know all about that exciting 6 month supervised diet thing. They told me all I have to do is weigh in once a month. That’s it. They’re not even asking me to diet. What I’m concerned about is, if UHC sees I’ve gained any weight will they deny my operation? The doctors office seems so nonchalant about it all I’m trying to figure out if it’s really this easy? My BMI is 41 btw.

I have uhc oxford and i was approved and i did gain some weight over the 6 months, but not too much. I am currently doing my pre-op liquid fast

[HopefulonLI 14]

Really? That gives me so much hope!! I feel like the 6 months will drag and take forever and it really brings me down sometimes. I just wish I could start my life up again (in a healthier way) sooner than later. I’m in NY - I noticed you said Oxford :). Best of luck to you on your journey!

[Born in Missouri 1,264]

I have UHC. Policies vary even within the same health system. My policy didn't give a wooty-toot-toot whether I lost weight during my 6-month supervised period or gained weight! Sometimes a doctor's office staff can (in good faith) share the wrong information, so find out what YOUR actual policy states. Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask member services to clarify your policy for you. Are you getting the bypass?

Write to me privately. I might be able to help you navigate other policy details.

[newbegjo1219 15]

8 hours ago, HopefulonLI said:

Really? That gives me so much hope!! I feel like the 6 months will drag and take forever and it really brings me down sometimes. I just wish I could start my life up again (in a healthier way) sooner than later. I’m in NY - I noticed you said Oxford :). Best of luck to you on your journey!

Yes it united health care oxford, i am also in new york and went through the same process at first i thought it was forever but it did go by quickly. I found an amazing center in LI NY Bariatric Center and they have been great, so looking forward to joining the losers bench this month 13 more days to go.

[ajmitchener 6]

On 1/8/2019 at 2:33 PM, HopefulonLI said:

Just had my first appointment last month. They checked my insurance and I’m good to go, however if you’re a UHC person you know all about that exciting 6 month supervised diet thing. They told me all I have to do is weigh in once a month. That’s it. They’re not even asking me to diet. What I’m concerned about is, if UHC sees I’ve gained any weight will they deny my operation? The doctors office seems so nonchalant about it all I’m trying to figure out if it’s really this easy? My BMI is 41 btw.

You mentioned that all you have to do is weigh in once a month? Is that a hard requirement? I too have UHC and I have been seeing a nutritionist for ~9 months, but there was like a 2 month window where I didn't attend a session. Hoping I don't have to restart the 6-months.

Edited January 9, 2019 by ajmitchener

[🅺🅸🅼🅼🅸🅴🅺 296]

16 hours ago, ajmitchener said:

You mentioned that all you have to do is weigh in once a month? Is that a hard requirement? I too have UHC and I have been seeing a nutritionist for ~9 months, but there was like a 2 month window where I didn't attend a session. Hoping I don't have to restart the 6-months.

I don't have UHC...(Anthem Blue Cross). I also have to have 6 dietician visits, which are all done over the phone once per month. My RD told me whatever I do, do NOT miss a visit because I'll have to start all over again. You might want to check on your policy requirements

[Boldilocks 312]

I have UHC and am in NY (New York State Employees' plan). I wasn't told anything about gaining - but was told not to lose (my BMI was 36 and I risked falling below the threshold of 35).

My wait has been more like 8 months because I went for my consult in June 2018, but couldn't come back in July because I spend the summer in Ireland. I picked up again in late August, and had my last weigh in today - the 6 weigh-ins have to be consecutive, and they are pretty strict about it being 30 days between appts.

I have been up and down, and am about 3 lbs higher than my initial weight - there wasn't an issue made of it. I was told that UHC takes 14 business days to authorise, so they stressed it was really important not to miss any appts (weigh-ins and others).

[lifeasfaith 48]

DO NOT MISS A WEIGH IN! If you your weigh ins have to start all over again. They need CONSECUTIVE weigh ins.

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[lifeasfaith 48]

I have UHC and am in NY (New York State Employees' plan). I wasn't told anything about gaining - but was told not to lose (my BMI was 36 and I risked falling below the threshold of 35).
My wait has been more like 8 months because I went for my consult in June 2018, but couldn't come back in July because I spend the summer in Ireland. I picked up again in late August, and had my last weigh in today - the 6 weigh-ins have to be consecutive, and they are pretty strict about it being 30 days between appts.
I have been up and down, and am about 3 lbs higher than my initial weight - there wasn't an issue made of it. I was told that UHC takes 14 business days to authorise, so they stressed it was really important not to miss any appts (weigh-ins and others).

Actually with uhc you have TWO options.... weigh in with your for 6 months OR you can provide 6 months worth of documentation of a structured diet program that you tried in the last 2 years. I was able to print out 6 months worth of logs from MYFITNESSPAL.

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[Boldilocks 312]

On 1/21/2019 at 4:18 PM, lifeasfaith said:

Actually with uhc you have TWO options.... weigh in with your for 6 months OR you can provide 6 months worth of documentation of a structured diet program that you tried in the last 2 years. I was able to print out 6 months worth of logs from MYFITNESSPAL.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using BariatricPal mobile app

Very true - I had forgotten that you could provide 6 months of proof. However, there might be more leeway with this from office to office - as my two years' worth of daily logging on MyFitnessPal and my FitBit app, as well as a year subscription to Weight Watchers was not deemed proof enough. Specifically, it had include monthly weigh-ins at the surgeon's clinic or my primary care doctor's office, or it was a no-go.

But just to echo OP - I was told at my consult that UHC required 6 months of weigh-ins either there or with my Dr. I was given no diet to follow, and was given no amount of weight that I had to lose. In fact, I was told not to lose any weight, because if I fell below 35 BMI at any of my weigh-ins, it would disqualify me. I know some insurance just take the starting weight, but not UHC.

I too was a little freaked out about how unstructured it seemed to be, and posted here about it panicking slightly. Turns out that they really don't get serious with you until about half way through. 3 months in I was given a surgery date, then about 4 months in it started to get far more intense - I've had 11 appts over the last 2 months to get everything completed.

[lifeasfaith 48]

Uhc accepted my 6 months of my fitness pal documentation without any official Dr weigh ins.

[Boldilocks 312]

6 minutes ago, lifeasfaith said:

Uhc accepted my 6 months of my fitness pal documentation without any official Dr weigh ins.

I'm glad that you didn't have to jump through the additional hoops. Could it be a State thing? I live in NY and so does OP going by her name. The insurance we have is for State workers - maybe she has that too? No idea. 🤷‍♀️

[lifeasfaith 48]

I'm glad that you didn't have to jump through the additional hoops. Could it be a State thing? I live in NY and so does OP going by her name. The insurance we have is for State workers - maybe she has that too? No idea. 🤷‍♀️

I have United healthcare and mine is a Medicare advantage plan. I'm in the state of Missouri. Medicare advantage plans are required to comply with however Medicare covers a particular procedure.

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[lifeasfaith 48]

I have United healthcare and mine is a Medicare advantage plan. I'm in the state of Missouri. Medicare advantage plans are required to comply with however Medicare covers a particular procedure.

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I just found out that since mu United Healthcare is a Medicare Advantage Plan they MUST comply with Medicare guidelines when approving surgeries and cannot tack on extra hoops for people to jump through in getting approved. So I am not required to provide 6 months worth of documented structured weight loss attempts or 6 months worth of Dr supervised weigh ins either.

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