adagirl

I don't have personal experience w/Cigna, but do you know what their criteria are? From what I have read, if you meet the requirements and provide the proper documentation, you WILL be approved. Its common to get denied (even w/all your ducks in a row) because some piece of paperwork/documentation is left out of your packet or was failed to be submitted. But, they just resubmit and everything goes through fine. So, definitely don't freak out if you get a denial the first time. Its most likely just a paperwork thing. If the insurance coordinator at your bariatric surgeon's office is good and experienced, there is less likely to be a mistake like that, but it does happen.

I think the issue of how 'difficult' one company is over the other comes more into play if you don't exactly meet the requirements. For example, I lost weight in 2007 so I technically don't meet the Aetna requirement for 2 yrs morbid obesity. I am sending in a bunch of other documentation to prove 'longstanding obesity' (which is the rqmt underlying 2 yrs). They will probably still deny me, but then again I'm in a gray area depending on who is reviewing my file, whether they consider NIH (National Institute of Health) standards, and even could come down to what they have negotiated w/my husband's employer as to the details w/which they administer the policy.

Ultimately, I don't know if one insurance is really more difficult than another (if you clearly meet the rqmts), but certainly one situation can be more difficult than another. I've had Aetna for so long and let me tell you they can be great in one situation and horrible in another. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Almost all customer service is outsourced overseas and the billing is all over the place. If I get approved the first go around, it will probably be because someone screwed up (yeah, sometimes it works in your favor), but in that case I will keep my mouth shut!!! LOL