Anthem (Blue Cross/Blue Sheild) Blue Access PPO?

Anyone have this plan and do you know if they cover gastric bypass? My employer just switched to them, and we have no information, no contract, no cards, nothing but a group number that was unknown by the Anthem rep when I called the 800 number my employer gave me...(talk about driving you nuts). How they can start employees on the insurance before having all their ducks in a row, is beyond me. We were told just to save our medical receipts for reimbursement if we have to see a doctor or get meds before they straighten it out!

I have Anthem BC/BS, but the coverage depends on what options your employer purchased.  My employer just began purchasing coverage for WLS in 2007, but we have had Anthem for years. 

Your best bet is to contact human resources to get a confirmation on whether or not they purchased the WLS coverage.  Also you can call Anthem's Bariatric dedicated line and they can look it up.  Their number is:

Anthem Centers of Medical Excellence-National Bariatric

800-824-0581 Bariatrics department = option 2 then press 2 again for Bariatric Customer Service (Angela)

My husband's company has this insurance and they don't cover WLS. However, according to the customer service number I called at Anthem it was because his employer chose to exclude it. So I would call Anthem and ask if they cover it or not. Good luck!!

BossLady, you are awesome, thank you so much for that info! I will call them as soon as I can!

Larissa  I am a retired customer service supervisor of Anthem,  if you dont get anywhere with the information Bosslady gave you just PM me and I will try to help you the best I can.  But you do need to speak with your human resources department to see if they excluded WLS in their contract with Anthem.  

 

I am willing to help anyway I can

lol - I've been after HR for a month now, before, during and now after the switch. According to them, the final contract hasn't been approved yet. How can they switch without the contract being approved?? We went "live" January 1st! I did put the bug in her ear - please, if possible, make sure that WLS is included in the plan. I got the impression from the Anthem rep that came to talk to us at open enrollment that Anthem routinely OMITS WLS and my employer would have to ask for a rider...does that sound right?

I have Federal Anthem BC/BS and they pay for Gastric Bypass though I had lapband.  However the finance office where I had my surgery gave me a form with questions to ask the BC/BS representative so that she would know exactly what they would pay for, my expenses before and after surgery.  Fortunately on the plan that I have, it cost me less than $1,000 out of pocket.  See if you can get something so that you ask the correct questions.