Insurance coverage

[Kt1005]

Looking to find out if anyone used United Healthcare to cover sleeve surgery and if so, what requirements they have to cover it.

[Luna354]

Every policy for every employer is different. It depends on if the employer decides to purchase a rider on their policy that includes barbaric surgery. I had blue cross. For many others I know with blue cross it is covered. Mine was not. give your insurance company a call, they'll be able to tell you.

[Christie13]

Yup. Call your insurance company and get the exact requirements. Then make sure you follow them to the letter. If not, they will deny your surgery. Most surgeons know the requirements. They are great at dealing with insurance companies. You gotta remember, if they follow the requirements then they are going to make money.

[sraebaer]

Yes, it's basically your employer that chooses the coverage. For example I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield with with a strict no bariatric policy, no exceptions. Others have had their surgery covered by the same company.

The scary part was seeing they would not cover bariatric surgery, they would also not have covered bariatric complications. So if, say, I was put back in the hospital for dehydration, I would have had to pay 100% and basically bankrupt my family. I was sure to do exactly what they told me to do and was SO LUCKY to have had no complications. Since my surgery over 3 years ago my surgeon earned the "Center of Excellence" and now I think they are able to sell an insurance policy to cover complications for self-pay people like myself. I would have bought that.