Question:
Why am I getting the run around with Cigna?

Okay, everyone else seems to be having no problem with Cigna, well I am. I called to today to see if I was approved and now they are telling me it generally takes 14 days for the medical review board to make a decision. Well on Tuesday, they told me it only takes 10 days. Help!! Any suggestions. I need this approval or denial, before I submit to my other insurance co. Granted my surgery isn't till Dec 4th, but I don't want to be running around at the last minute. Any suggestions??    — Dottie D. (posted on October 27, 2000)

October 27, 2000
At first, my calls with CIGNA were very un-productive. They told me I didn't exist on their system. I got that cleared up, and then they told me they had never received the request from my surgeon. Finally got that figured out, and they sent me to the medical review committee. About three weeks later, I got my approval letter in the mail. All the red tape took longer than the actual approval process. Sounds like you are in the home stretch.
   — Lynn K.

November 1, 2000
My suggestion- Call your physician and Cigna twice daily. I did:) I changed to Cigna because they look like they approve WLS easily, and my WLS surgeon suggested Cigna. It was a disaster at first, but things are getting better. My physcian wrote a referral to whe WLS surgeon. Cigna denied it, and wanted more documentation. I gave them as much as I could, and they put it up for medical review. Here's the confusing part- my physicians office said yeah, the sent in the appeal for the referral, but Cigna kept saying they never received any request for a referral. Eventually, Cigna did have records of this whole disaster, and said go ahead and have the appointment with the WLS surgeon, under the stipulation that I had to pay for it. If Cigna approved, they would reimburse me. Well, Yesterday I found out they approved me, and I will submit a claim for reimbursement. Now the only wait is to see if they approve your surgery. So keep on them, call them every day if necessary. And keep copies of all the medical records you can get your hands on! Someone might want them. Best of luck, Sara
   — [Deactivated Member]