Question:
HINT ABOUT CIGNA PPO SURGERY APPROVAL

I SPOKE TO A REP AT CIGNA TODAY ABOUT MY COVERAGE FOR THE SURGERY AND DURING THE CONVERSATION THE REP TOLD ME THAT I REALLY DONT NEED TO HAVE THE SURGEON SUBMIT ANY PAPERWORK TO GET APPROVAL!!! HE SAID THAT USE AN 800 NUMBER!! THE PRECERTIFICATION DEPARTMENT IS CONTRACTED THRU A COMPANY CALLED INTRACORP. HE SAID ALL I HAVE TO DO IS HAVE THE SURGEON THAT I CHOOSE CALL INTRACORP AT 1-800-982-8958 AND GIVE THEMALL MY INFO ALONG WITH HIS REASONS FOR DEEMING THE SURGERY MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND THEY WILL GIVE APPROVAL RIGHT OVER THE PHONE!!! WOW!!!! I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS BECAUSE I HAENT GOTTEN THAT FAR YET BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD AT LEAST MENTION IT ON HERE INCASE THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS AT THAT POINT AND MAYBE THEY MIGHT FIND THE INFO HELPFUL!! YOU CAN EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT AT [email protected]! GOOD LUCK..... TO ALL OF US!!!    — Tracy S. (posted on January 31, 2003)

January 31, 2003
hi there, i have cigna ppo also and i was calling intrcorp also and it may be different in different states but they told me they are not the ones that make the final decision, it is cigna themselves, it's a very confusing thing. i just recently got my approval after being denied the first time. i feel it all depends on who's reviewing your chart and how they feel about the whole thing. it's not fait that way but that's what they do. just my experience...
   — Michelle L.

February 1, 2003
Thanks for letting me know about the Intracorp thing! I figured when i called them and they told me that, it sounded too easy!! At least now i know not to get my hopes up for "instant approval"! haha! I am dealing right now with NeWeigh in Houston and they took my info and Shane (the guy i talked to at NeWeigh) said that he would be in touch with me sometime by the end of next week and set me up for an apointment after their insurance department verifies for themselves that the procedure is covered. At this point I dont kow which of their surgeons is in the Cigna network but from the research i did last night on this site as well as on the Cigna site, it looks like its going to be Dr.Ferrari. From what i have read about him on this site he is a great surgeon and even performed the surgery on his own daughter! So i am hoping that he will be the one i get! Thanks for the input!!
   — Tracy S.