Will UHC Cover Cosmetic Procedures

[RoseCity Girl 0]

Maybe someone on the forum can assist me with this issue. I know there will be a lot of skin once I lose the weight. Do you think that if it is medically needed, will they cover the cost.

[faithmd 14]

You should call them and ask, that's the ONLY way to know FOR SURE. Someone else may have UHC, but plans differ from employer to employer. Employers have the ability to buy (or not) riders for various things like bariatric surgery or cosmetic surgery.

And what may be considered cosmetic to one ins co may not be cosmetic to another. You need to have them send you a hard copy of what the requirements are if they say tey cover certain things if "medically necessary." You need to know what that exactly means.

[Wheetsin 714]

Yep yep, depends entirely on your plan as well as exclusions.

It will say in your SPD, just read it.

[faithmd 14]

I just read on another thread where you haven't been banded yet.

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't worry about any of this until you are closer to your goal weight. I would hate for you to get married to what you may find out now about coverage and have it totally change just as you are getting ready to apply for your TT.

Who knows, you may not have UHC by then.

Seriously, make your life much less complicated and don't worry about this now. I was excited about what I had learned about coverage when I changed ins co's to get the band in the first place, then I discovered my information had been wrong. Had to wait another year to change to another ins co that did cover the band. In that year they went from a six month MD supervised diet requirement to a TWELVE month requirement. Needless to say, I was livid and depressed.

So please don't put too much time or trouble into finding this out now.

[juliegeraci 7]

Mine doesnt' cover it unless you are in a tragic accident and need reconstructive surgery.

[Dr.JLo 1]

Hi.

Insurance can help, but you must have documented medical problems from the excess skin. By documented I mean doctor visits and prescriptions for skin problems due to excess skin.

You will also need to find a PS willing to go through the insurance process for you, and you must be prepared for out-of-pocket expenses.

My websites have a downloadable document called "Tips for getting insurance approval" under PATIENT RESOURCES plus another article in the NeWeigh newsletter you may find helpful.

Best wishes,

John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Houston, Texas

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Bodylifthouston

[RoseCity Girl 0]

Thanks Faithmd. I know I probably am putting too much on the table right now. I will have to learn to take one thing at a time.