That is my understanding too.  I also have UHC and was advised by the patient advocate at my surgeon's office to contact HR rep to determine if they bought the WLS portion of the plan.  Found out they did.  Couldn't give me much details about it, but at least I now know it is covered.  I'm also in the very early stages of this process, still don't know if I will need the supervised diet.  Good Luck.  Hope that helps some.  

I'm certainly no expert but I'll tell you my experience.  I had BCBS before UHC.  5 years ago I started the entire process and was told 6 months monitored weight loss or 3 months of 2.  That made no sense to me.  So, I went to ww and my Dr. at least once a month.  They turned me down saying my Dr. wasn't an approved monitored weight loss.  What???  I think they just wanted to say no, no matter what.  Then I had a tragedy in my family and put off the whole process.  Move ahead 5 years and my insurance changes.  I thought I'd just check out and see what UHC will cover.  Gave them a call and they told me it was covered and she did not see that I would have to do the 6 month monitored weight loss program.  So, I just decided to do what my Dr. required and have them submit it and see what happened.  If I need to do the monitored weight loss I would start.  It was very simple for me because I got approved the first time without having to do the 6 month weight loss program.  I know it's a frustrating process because you get so many conflicting answers.  In my case, I wanted them to submit it and go from there.  I know this probably doesn't help much but this is where I've been.  If you have your Dr. submit for approval and you get denied because you need to do the 6 months, is it harder because you have to appeal?  I don't know.  Good luck and let me know what happens.

Congrats!!!!!! I too have uhc, and I know my employer covers it as several of the girls at work are already post op, but im conflicted. Two girls at work say they had to do 6 mos weight loss programs with physicians, but I had my seminar with my surgeon sat, he said based on my insurance I didnt need it. Now im confused, optumhealth said I did, and I printed out the form for it but he said otherwise. What are your thoughts on it?

I'm soo nervous about this. I have UHC ChoicePlus and I haven't been able to get a straight answer out of them as to whether or not I need a 6 month supervised diet. Alot of pple with this plan don't seem to need one, so that's promising but I'm nervous that something will go wrong last minute.

I've also heard this thing about your BMI being higher than 40 for 5 years. I haven't heard it from my insurance company but I have from other people. My BMI has been above 35 for over 5 years but only over 40 for 1.

I'm nervous about this whole process. I have all of my appointments scheduled, I just don't want anything to go wrong.