United Healthcare and AT&T

Does anyone have any information that might be helpful for at&t employees with united healthcare ins. in California, getting their surgery covered? My friend works at a call center where she is required to sit all day, and you can just sit and watch all these ladies gradually gain weight over a period of a few years, and naturally they pick up a few weight related medical problems along with the extra pounds. And wouldn't you know it, AT&T does not allow coverage for WLS?! Does anyone of you know ANYTHING that my friend can do? Thanks so much.

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Little Debbie

I work for A&T and have Unitedhealthcare, although I don't work in California, I work on the East Coast, and it covers weightloss surgery here. I just had LAP-BAND® surgery done in April and there are alot of people in my call center that have had the procedure done. As a matter of fact, Unitedhealthcare is one of the quickest and easiet to get approval with, at least here...maybe your friend should double check with them...

Thread Starter

Thanks PRTazLUVA,
I'll pass that on to my friend. This particular call center used to be a Cingular Wireless before it went to AT&T, and 6 years or so ago they did pay for WLS, then probably due to A LOT of people getting it done, they stopped paying for it. United Healthcare says it is a covered benefit, but AT&T won't pay for it??

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Little Debbie

Hi, I also work for AT&T in Kansas City and I just had LAP-BAND® surgery done on March 19 through United Healthcare and mine was also paid for. I've talked to someone else on this website that works for AT&T that was formerly Cingular and I know they were having problems getting it covered also. If you do a search for AT&T you might be able to find the person who was also working for AT&T (Cingular) and find out if they have had any success. Unfortunately, until the next contract is written, your friend might be stuck without any WLS coverage, but hopefully, it will get written in and she can get the surgery. Good luck.

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Teri from Kansas City
Banded on 3/19/08
h-285/s-263/c-167.6/g-150 (I'll see once I get there)

I just found the thread from the other AT&T (Cingular) employee that I was referring to and bumped it up so you can read it. You might post a Private Message to both of the people in that thread and see what they can tell you. You'll find this thread under the Insurance & Financing category on the website. Hope this helps.

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Teri from Kansas City
Banded on 3/19/08
h-285/s-263/c-167.6/g-150 (I'll see once I get there)

Thread Starter

Thank you thin2bme!
You were so sweet to do that. I appreciate it very much. I will pass this on to my friend.

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Little Debbie

I also work for at&t call center in KY. We have UHC and it says there is and exclusion for WLS. Should I try anyway?

Hi Tiffany, were you a Cingular employee before being picked up by AT&T? If so, you will probably have to wait for a new contract to find out if the exclusion is lifted. I was a Southwestern Bell employee before it turned over to AT&T and my UHC did not have the exclusion. I suppose you can go ahead and try, but don't be surprised if your turned down. Sorry!!

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Teri from Kansas City
Banded on 3/19/08
h-285/s-263/c-167.6/g-150 (I'll see once I get there)

My husband works for AT&T in California and I had the surgery done in July under his United Health Care plan. United Health Care didn't even require any pre authorizations. When I first called UHC to find out if the surgery was covered I was told that there were pre authorizations required, so I fulfilled the pre authorizations then when the surgeons office called to get the authorization for surgery UHC told them that there weren't any pre authorizations that I was already covered. Your friend should call UHC herself and find out, I know my Dr's office spoke with someone named Jerry in Arizona. I know that is pretty vague but maybe helpful. Good Luck to your friend.

I work with AT&T on east coast. I was told my UHC i hae to have five year weight history from physician bmi over 40 period. I did not have all five years.. They denied me. Nothing in Appeal said they would approve surgery if I have comorbidities. I documentment them. I had four BMI's over fourty and one at 35.7 when I was taking diet pills. I'm trying to appeal. If ANYONE has a simular situation and was successful I would love to hear from you..