UHC Approved!

[kimmi5207 0]

Called my insurance company today and got the great news - Approved!

On the very first try!

I called last Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they didn't even show they had received anything. But it was approved yesterday, the Monday after Thanksgiving. Took a little over 2 weeks from my first visit for my medical evaluation, to my final approval, and that includes the thanksgiving holidays!

The doctors office did say I was lucky...approved on the first go around and they only required a letter of medical neccessity. I had typed up a list of my weight loss history and had it when I went to my initial appointment (i.e. different tries at Weight Watchers & Quick Weight Loss centers, and included my starting and ending weights and the amount lost). Of course each time I started a new one my weight was always higher than it was when I began the one before it!

I guess they accepted that, since it was pretty detailed and dated back to 1999.

SO HAPPY!!!!!!

Now I just have wait to hear from the financial person at the doctors offie to tell me what my portion of the costs will be.

[songbird81 1]

You're lucky! I work for UHC and they won't cover it for me. Benefits there are actually fairly skimpy all around.

[stacy73 2]

congrats Kimmi!!!

[HeatherA 1]

I just got notice today that I was approved by UHC. I am under the Definity plan. Only one try for me as well! I am so relieved since my insurance switches to Cigna January 1.

[kimmi5207 0]

Thanks everyone!

Heather, I'm glad you got approved so quickly also! Especially before you insurance changed! No telling what the hassle may have been then! Good luck with your surgery!

[HeatherA 1]

Thanks! I'm excited and waiting for the scheduling person to call and set up my pre-op date. Do you think staring at the phone will make it ring quicker?

[kimmi5207 0]

I've been staring at the phone the last 2 days, waiting for them to call and give me my exact amount to pay after insurance, as well as schedule my surgery as definitely being on the 21st. No call so far!

During the other 2 weeks, I contacted them 2 or 3 times, so I don't want every department knowing my name, so I'll give them until Monday, and then I will call, because it will be less than 3 weeks away and I will need to be thinking about a preop diet!

[HeatherA 1]

LOL... I'm still waiting for the call too... within an hour of being told I was approved I got the call about the money that was due at my pre-op appointment... but nothing about scheduling it. I'm hoping it's because they called my home phone rather than my cell phone.

[destiny79 0]

I called the Dr. office and Surgerical Center that I will be having my surgery at and got my out of pocket, great news what that the hospital said pay as much as I can the day of surgery and they will bill the rest to me and I can pay every month on it . I guess the fiqure I have to come every month for a fill that I am not going anywhere

[kimmi5207 0]

That's great news!

I got a call yesterday from the doctors office, with the amount to pay him & the anestiologist (sorry, mispelled). I was surprised by how low it was! Much less than I was expecting. Then I discovered later that the real cost is the facilty charge.

They bill separately, so I had to call them. They can't tell me how much because they haven't gotten my file yet, but from my calculations, it will basically be the remainder of my out of pocket expenses allowed by my insurance company - I have about $2,250 left to reach my max out of pocket. The facility cost is $14,500 (before insurance). I was shocked because the doctor was so low. The facility originally said I would get a call about 3 days before my surgery with the cost. I thought that was kind of crazy and told her I needed to know before then, so I can make sure that I have the money.

I hope they will take payments also. I get my bonus in February, and could pay it off completely. It really would be better if I did the surgery in 2008, when my FSA benefits reset, but Christmas vacation is the only extended time I have off work until March, and I'll have gained another 20 lbs at the rate I'm going right now! And I definitely don't want to wait until next summer. By then, I hope to have lost a lot ofweight so I can finally enjoy the pictures we take on summer vacation!