Re: One Week Progress Report-

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda !

Yes of course I remember you ! I have been watching and reading your posts

frequently...I sometimes feel so very guilty because I was able to obtain

approval from Cigna that I tend to shy away, because I would never want to

hurt anyone over that. I can only tell you to never give up...Cigna has

approved many of us..make them tell you why they denied..and then prove them

wrong ! Stay strong sister !

I appreciate your kind words to me...and I am from Central Florida..near

Cape Canaveral..but i'm moving to Orlando...somewhat near Beth (yeah !! )

and i'm not sure where the two areas your family is visiting is...

Please also keep me posted on your progress !

in Fl

>

>Reply-To: MiniGastricBypass (AT) egroups (DOT) com

>To: MiniGastricBypass (AT) egroups (DOT) com

>Subject: Re: One Week Progress Report-

>Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 17:39:14 -0000

>

> > >In a message dated 9/20/2000 12:17:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> > >DEEDLE10@H... writes:

> > >

> > ><< 22lbs lost in 7 days. Now ... I will tell you ...I am a

>sponge !!

> > > I retain so much water that I could fill a small pond ! But

>there

> > > HAS GOT to be some fat loss there ! ~smile ~

> > >> >

> > > in Fl

> > > *jumping up and down*

> > > 22 lbs gone forever! >>

> > >

>,

>

>Congratulations!!! That is so cool. I am really happy for you. I

>don't know if you remember who I am. My name is Rhonda. I am from

>Indiana. You sent me an e-mail early on in the process in response

>to one I had posted. You told me how my e-mail had touched you

>because you could really relate. I don't know if I told you what

>getting that e-mail meant to me, if I didn't I am truly sorry. It

>helped to know I was not alone. I am still in the process, still

>fighting with Cigna, but also not willing to give up like they want

>me to. I am feeling under the gun now because my parents and in-laws

>both are snow birds and be leaving for Florida in a couple more

>months. My in-laws are going to stay with our kids and my parents

>were going to go with us so my husband has someone to sit with him

>while I'm busy and in surgery.

>

>What part of Florida did you say you are from? I know I've seen you

>post it, but I can't remember. My in-laws live in Leesburg, and my

>parents live in Arcadia at Big Tree Park. Are you close to Leesburg

>or Arcadia?

>

>I'm looking forward to seeing more posts on how you are progressing.

>Take care.

>

>Bonded by our experience, strength and hope,

>

>Rhonda

>______________________________________________________________________

>__

> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

>http://www.hotmail.com.

> >

> > Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> > http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> >In a message dated 9/20/2000 12:17:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> >DEEDLE10@H... writes:

> >

> ><< 22lbs lost in 7 days. Now ... I will tell you ...I am a

sponge !!

> > I retain so much water that I could fill a small pond ! But

there

> > HAS GOT to be some fat loss there ! ~smile ~

> >> >

> > in Fl

> > *jumping up and down*

> > 22 lbs gone forever! >>

> >

,

Congratulations!!! That is so cool. I am really happy for you. I

don't know if you remember who I am. My name is Rhonda. I am from

Indiana. You sent me an e-mail early on in the process in response

to one I had posted. You told me how my e-mail had touched you

because you could really relate. I don't know if I told you what

getting that e-mail meant to me, if I didn't I am truly sorry. It

helped to know I was not alone. I am still in the process, still

fighting with Cigna, but also not willing to give up like they want

me to. I am feeling under the gun now because my parents and in-laws

both are snow birds and be leaving for Florida in a couple more

months. My in-laws are going to stay with our kids and my parents

were going to go with us so my husband has someone to sit with him

while I'm busy and in surgery.

What part of Florida did you say you are from? I know I've seen you

post it, but I can't remember. My in-laws live in Leesburg, and my

parents live in Arcadia at Big Tree Park. Are you close to Leesburg

or Arcadia?

I'm looking forward to seeing more posts on how you are progressing.

Take care.

Bonded by our experience, strength and hope,

Rhonda

______________________________________________________________________

__

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Rhonda !

>

> Yes of course I remember you ! I have been watching and reading

your posts frequently...I sometimes feel so very guilty because I

was able to obtain approval from Cigna that I tend to shy away,

because I would never want to hurt anyone over that. I can only

tell you to never give up...Cigna has approved many of us..make them

tell you why they denied..and then prove them wrong ! Stay strong

sister !

> I appreciate your kind words to me...and I am from Central

Florida..near Cape Canaveral..but i'm moving to Orlando...somewhat

near Beth (yeah !! ) and i'm not sure where the two areas your family

is visiting is...

>

> Please also keep me posted on your progress !

>

> in Fl

>

,

Please don't feel guilty about getting approval from Cigna when other

people have not been able to. I am an adult. I understand that

sometimes life is not fair. Actually, when I hear of someone else

getting approval from them, it just makes me more determined. I have

a friend that works the same place I do. She had the MGB in May.

She was initially denied and went ahead and self paid and had the

surgery. She appealed it after the surgery was done. She did not

have a BMI of 40 or more and had very few co-morbidities to speak

of. She was approved after her first appeal letter. No problems at

all. I have a BMI of 48 with several co-morbidities and am getting

the biggest run around imagineable. It does not make sense. We work

at the same place, have the same insurance(Cigna), and the same

coverage. They have used the excuse that I don't meet the Cigna

criteria for weight loss surgery. They will not tell me which of the

six listed on the denial letter I do not meet. I feel that I meet

them all. My family doctor says I meet them all too. I have been

fighting them since June. When I call and ask them which of the six

criteria I do not meet, they will not tell me. All they have ever

said is we can not tell you that, read your denial letter, it is

stated in the letter. The letter does not say which of the six

criteria they feel I do not meet. They say they can only talk to my

doctor about that. My doctor has tried to call them at least 6-7

times and all he gets is the run around also. He has never been able

to talk to a medical professional in all the times he has called.

They keep telling him they will have the medical director or a nurse

call him back. They never do. Once again this week, after I had

called Cigna again for the who knows how many times now, they gave me

another number for my doctor to try, they said maybe the number he

has been calling does not work....yeah, right. So my doctor tried

that number and was told that they could not talk to him, he needed

to talk with a medical professional so they transfered him to another

number. All in all my doctor was transferred or told to call 4

different numbers 2 of which he had been told to call previously. He

ended up getting a voice mail again and left a message for them to

call him. They did not. So, on Tuesday, I went back up to the

benefits claim director here at work to let them know what is going

on now (my benefits director and division director here at work are

trying to help me now). We spent an hour and 12 minutes on the phone

with Cigna trying to get someone to let us talk with the medical

director or a nurse. We were going to conference my doctor in with

the medical director if we could get him on the phone. We never did

get to talk to the doctor or a nurse. The people we were on the

phone with said they could not get a hold of the doctor or a nurse.

This was all after we had been transfered from one number to another

6 different times. We are talking from one state to another also.

After an hour and 12 minutes what they did do was assure us that they

would give the medical director another message(this is about the 6th

message he has been given to my knowledge)and have him call my

doctor. Well, guess what? That call never came....again. So, my

doctor called me yesterday and said that he had dictated a letter

documenting what he had done. I went and picked it up lastnight. I

am giving a copy of it to our benefits director here at work. Now it

is a wait and see what happens again. I am going to tell the

benefits director that I am giving them until Wednesday, September 27

at 10:00 a.m. to have an answer for me or I am calling the Insurance

Commissioner in Indy. I have had enough. Sorry, this was so long.

I guess it was time to vent again.

My parents live in Arcadia which is about 1 hour Southwest of

Orlando. My husbands parents live in Leesburg which is about 30

minutes Northwest of Orlando. Have you heard of Clermont? It is

right outside of Orlando going Southwest I believe. My brother-in-

law and his family lives in Clermont. He is currently working at

Disneyworld as far as I know. He is a contractor.

I am happy for all of you that have had the surgery and I know my

time will come. I am not going to pray for patience anymore. You

know what they say about being careful what you pray for. Actually

prayer for me has been rather difficult in the last few months. I

find myself telling God what I want him to do and that kind of prayer

has always been awkward for me for some reason. I guess it's the who

am I to tell God what to do?, that bothers me.

Better go for now.

Bonded by our experience, strength and hope,

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Hi Rhonda !

> >

> > Yes of course I remember you ! I have been watching and reading

> your posts frequently...I sometimes feel so very guilty because I

> was able to obtain approval from Cigna that I tend to shy away,

> because I would never want to hurt anyone over that. I can only

> tell you to never give up...Cigna has approved many of us..make

them

> tell you why they denied..and then prove them wrong ! Stay strong

> sister !

>

> > I appreciate your kind words to me...and I am from Central

> Florida..near Cape Canaveral..but i'm moving to Orlando...somewhat

> near Beth (yeah !! ) and i'm not sure where the two areas your

family

> is visiting is...

> >

> > Please also keep me posted on your progress !

> >

> > in Fl

> >

> ,

>

> Please don't feel guilty about getting approval from Cigna when

other

> people have not been able to. I am an adult. I understand that

> sometimes life is not fair. Actually, when I hear of someone else

> getting approval from them, it just makes me more determined. I

have

> a friend that works the same place I do. She had the MGB in May.

> She was initially denied and went ahead and self paid and had the

> surgery. She appealed it after the surgery was done. She did not

> have a BMI of 40 or more and had very few co-morbidities to speak

> of. She was approved after her first appeal letter. No problems

at

> all. I have a BMI of 48 with several co-morbidities and am getting

> the biggest run around imagineable. It does not make sense. We

work

> at the same place, have the same insurance(Cigna), and the same

> coverage. They have used the excuse that I don't meet the Cigna

> criteria for weight loss surgery. They will not tell me which of

the

> six listed on the denial letter I do not meet. I feel that I meet

> them all. My family doctor says I meet them all too. I have been

> fighting them since June. When I call and ask them which of the

six

> criteria I do not meet, they will not tell me. All they have ever

> said is we can not tell you that, read your denial letter, it is

> stated in the letter. The letter does not say which of the six

> criteria they feel I do not meet. They say they can only talk to

my

> doctor about that. My doctor has tried to call them at least 6-7

> times and all he gets is the run around also. He has never been

able

> to talk to a medical professional in all the times he has called.

> They keep telling him they will have the medical director or a

nurse

> call him back. They never do. Once again this week, after I had

> called Cigna again for the who knows how many times now, they gave

me

> another number for my doctor to try, they said maybe the number he

> has been calling does not work....yeah, right. So my doctor tried

> that number and was told that they could not talk to him, he needed

> to talk with a medical professional so they transfered him to

another

> number. All in all my doctor was transferred or told to call 4

> different numbers 2 of which he had been told to call previously.

He

> ended up getting a voice mail again and left a message for them to

> call him. They did not. So, on Tuesday, I went back up to the

> benefits claim director here at work to let them know what is going

> on now (my benefits director and division director here at work are

> trying to help me now). We spent an hour and 12 minutes on the

phone

> with Cigna trying to get someone to let us talk with the medical

> director or a nurse. We were going to conference my doctor in with

> the medical director if we could get him on the phone. We never

did

> get to talk to the doctor or a nurse. The people we were on the

> phone with said they could not get a hold of the doctor or a

nurse.

> This was all after we had been transfered from one number to

another

> 6 different times. We are talking from one state to another also.

> After an hour and 12 minutes what they did do was assure us that

they

> would give the medical director another message(this is about the

6th

> message he has been given to my knowledge)and have him call my

> doctor. Well, guess what? That call never came....again. So, my

> doctor called me yesterday and said that he had dictated a letter

> documenting what he had done. I went and picked it up lastnight.

I

> am giving a copy of it to our benefits director here at work. Now

it

> is a wait and see what happens again. I am going to tell the

> benefits director that I am giving them until Wednesday, September

27

> at 10:00 a.m. to have an answer for me or I am calling the

Insurance

> Commissioner in Indy. I have had enough. Sorry, this was so

long.

> I guess it was time to vent again.

>

> My parents live in Arcadia which is about 1 hour Southwest of

> Orlando. My husbands parents live in Leesburg which is about 30

> minutes Northwest of Orlando. Have you heard of Clermont? It is

> right outside of Orlando going Southwest I believe. My brother-in-

> law and his family lives in Clermont. He is currently working at

> Disneyworld as far as I know. He is a contractor.

>

> I am happy for all of you that have had the surgery and I know my

> time will come. I am not going to pray for patience anymore. You

> know what they say about being careful what you pray for. Actually

> prayer for me has been rather difficult in the last few months. I

> find myself telling God what I want him to do and that kind of

prayer

> has always been awkward for me for some reason. I guess it's the

who

> am I to tell God what to do?, that bothers me.

>

> Better go for now.

>

> Bonded by our experience, strength and hope,

>

> Rhonda

[Guest guest]

This is just so damn unfair...YOU pay THEM...how the hell do they have the

right to not talk to you??? The Cigna reps I spoke to only talked to me.

I was fortunate. I wish you so much luck Rhonda. Stay strong !

in Fl

>

>Reply-To: MiniGastricBypass (AT) egroups (DOT) com

>To: MiniGastricBypass (AT) egroups (DOT) com

>Subject: Re: One Week Progress Report-

>Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 20:54:40 -0000

>

>

> >

> > Hi Rhonda !

> >

> > Yes of course I remember you ! I have been watching and reading

>your posts frequently...I sometimes feel so very guilty because I

>was able to obtain approval from Cigna that I tend to shy away,

>because I would never want to hurt anyone over that. I can only

>tell you to never give up...Cigna has approved many of us..make them

>tell you why they denied..and then prove them wrong ! Stay strong

>sister !

>

> > I appreciate your kind words to me...and I am from Central

>Florida..near Cape Canaveral..but i'm moving to Orlando...somewhat

>near Beth (yeah !! ) and i'm not sure where the two areas your family

>is visiting is...

> >

> > Please also keep me posted on your progress !

> >

> > in Fl

> >

>,

>

>Please don't feel guilty about getting approval from Cigna when other

>people have not been able to. I am an adult. I understand that

>sometimes life is not fair. Actually, when I hear of someone else

>getting approval from them, it just makes me more determined. I have

>a friend that works the same place I do. She had the MGB in May.

>She was initially denied and went ahead and self paid and had the

>surgery. She appealed it after the surgery was done. She did not

>have a BMI of 40 or more and had very few co-morbidities to speak

>of. She was approved after her first appeal letter. No problems at

>all. I have a BMI of 48 with several co-morbidities and am getting

>the biggest run around imagineable. It does not make sense. We work

>at the same place, have the same insurance(Cigna), and the same

>coverage. They have used the excuse that I don't meet the Cigna

>criteria for weight loss surgery. They will not tell me which of the

>six listed on the denial letter I do not meet. I feel that I meet

>them all. My family doctor says I meet them all too. I have been

>fighting them since June. When I call and ask them which of the six

>criteria I do not meet, they will not tell me. All they have ever

>said is we can not tell you that, read your denial letter, it is

>stated in the letter. The letter does not say which of the six

>criteria they feel I do not meet. They say they can only talk to my

>doctor about that. My doctor has tried to call them at least 6-7

>times and all he gets is the run around also. He has never been able

>to talk to a medical professional in all the times he has called.

>They keep telling him they will have the medical director or a nurse

>call him back. They never do. Once again this week, after I had

>called Cigna again for the who knows how many times now, they gave me

>another number for my doctor to try, they said maybe the number he

>has been calling does not work....yeah, right. So my doctor tried

>that number and was told that they could not talk to him, he needed

>to talk with a medical professional so they transfered him to another

>number. All in all my doctor was transferred or told to call 4

>different numbers 2 of which he had been told to call previously. He

>ended up getting a voice mail again and left a message for them to

>call him. They did not. So, on Tuesday, I went back up to the

>benefits claim director here at work to let them know what is going

>on now (my benefits director and division director here at work are

>trying to help me now). We spent an hour and 12 minutes on the phone

>with Cigna trying to get someone to let us talk with the medical

>director or a nurse. We were going to conference my doctor in with

>the medical director if we could get him on the phone. We never did

>get to talk to the doctor or a nurse. The people we were on the

>phone with said they could not get a hold of the doctor or a nurse.

>This was all after we had been transfered from one number to another

>6 different times. We are talking from one state to another also.

>After an hour and 12 minutes what they did do was assure us that they

>would give the medical director another message(this is about the 6th

>message he has been given to my knowledge)and have him call my

>doctor. Well, guess what? That call never came....again. So, my

>doctor called me yesterday and said that he had dictated a letter

>documenting what he had done. I went and picked it up lastnight. I

>am giving a copy of it to our benefits director here at work. Now it

>is a wait and see what happens again. I am going to tell the

>benefits director that I am giving them until Wednesday, September 27

>at 10:00 a.m. to have an answer for me or I am calling the Insurance

>Commissioner in Indy. I have had enough. Sorry, this was so long.

>I guess it was time to vent again.

>

>My parents live in Arcadia which is about 1 hour Southwest of

>Orlando. My husbands parents live in Leesburg which is about 30

>minutes Northwest of Orlando. Have you heard of Clermont? It is

>right outside of Orlando going Southwest I believe. My brother-in-

>law and his family lives in Clermont. He is currently working at

>Disneyworld as far as I know. He is a contractor.

>

>I am happy for all of you that have had the surgery and I know my

>time will come. I am not going to pray for patience anymore. You

>know what they say about being careful what you pray for. Actually

>prayer for me has been rather difficult in the last few months. I

>find myself telling God what I want him to do and that kind of prayer

>has always been awkward for me for some reason. I guess it's the who

>am I to tell God what to do?, that bothers me.

>

>Better go for now.

>

>Bonded by our experience, strength and hope,

>

>Rhonda

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda,

My name is Garrison and I am from OK. I just wanted to comment on what

you said about prayer.

I was always told not to pray for patience too. However, my preacher's wife

who is also my sunday school teacher said something I felt compelled to

share with you....

She said " It is okay to pray for patience. Don't pray for " your patience "

though, pray for " God's patience " . Because honestly even if we go through a

million and one trials, will we ever get true patience if it is " our

patience " ?

NO, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Also, as far as your insurance is concerned, I will tell you what I did. I

prayed for God's will to be done even if it was not the answer I wanted. I

also prayed that if I was supposed to have this surgery, that God would make

it VERY clear for me (I am a true blonde clear to the roots and sometimes

His answers pass me right by if they are not OBVIOUS!!).

I prayed that my insurance wouldn't work out if I was not supposed to do

this. Guess what happened? I was approved by United Healthcare which is my

primary in just a few days!!! I had read that Dr. R. had done the MGB on

someone with this insurance so this was not a huge surprise. The surprise

came when my HMO approved it also!!!! WOW!!! To me that was a BIG, HUGE,

FAT YES!!!! It took about a month and 1/2 to get the approval from the

secondary but it was approved.

Sorry to be so long-winded but I just wanted to give you some hope. I will

pray for you to have " God's patience " and for Him to give you HIS answer.

Re: One Week Progress Report-

> >Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 20:54:40 -0000

> >

> >

> > >

> > > Hi Rhonda !

> > >

> > > Yes of course I remember you ! I have been watching and reading

> >your posts frequently...I sometimes feel so very guilty because I

> >was able to obtain approval from Cigna that I tend to shy away,

> >because I would never want to hurt anyone over that. I can only

> >tell you to never give up...Cigna has approved many of us..make them

> >tell you why they denied..and then prove them wrong ! Stay strong

> >sister !

> >

> > > I appreciate your kind words to me...and I am from Central

> >Florida..near Cape Canaveral..but i'm moving to Orlando...somewhat

> >near Beth (yeah !! ) and i'm not sure where the two areas your family

> >is visiting is...

> > >

> > > Please also keep me posted on your progress !

> > >

> > > in Fl

> > >

> >,

> >

> >Please don't feel guilty about getting approval from Cigna when other

> >people have not been able to. I am an adult. I understand that

> >sometimes life is not fair. Actually, when I hear of someone else

> >getting approval from them, it just makes me more determined. I have

> >a friend that works the same place I do. She had the MGB in May.

> >She was initially denied and went ahead and self paid and had the

> >surgery. She appealed it after the surgery was done. She did not

> >have a BMI of 40 or more and had very few co-morbidities to speak

> >of. She was approved after her first appeal letter. No problems at

> >all. I have a BMI of 48 with several co-morbidities and am getting

> >the biggest run around imagineable. It does not make sense. We work

> >at the same place, have the same insurance(Cigna), and the same

> >coverage. They have used the excuse that I don't meet the Cigna

> >criteria for weight loss surgery. They will not tell me which of the

> >six listed on the denial letter I do not meet. I feel that I meet

> >them all. My family doctor says I meet them all too. I have been

> >fighting them since June. When I call and ask them which of the six

> >criteria I do not meet, they will not tell me. All they have ever

> >said is we can not tell you that, read your denial letter, it is

> >stated in the letter. The letter does not say which of the six

> >criteria they feel I do not meet. They say they can only talk to my

> >doctor about that. My doctor has tried to call them at least 6-7

> >times and all he gets is the run around also. He has never been able

> >to talk to a medical professional in all the times he has called.

> >They keep telling him they will have the medical director or a nurse

> >call him back. They never do. Once again this week, after I had

> >called Cigna again for the who knows how many times now, they gave me

> >another number for my doctor to try, they said maybe the number he

> >has been calling does not work....yeah, right. So my doctor tried

> >that number and was told that they could not talk to him, he needed

> >to talk with a medical professional so they transfered him to another

> >number. All in all my doctor was transferred or told to call 4

> >different numbers 2 of which he had been told to call previously. He

> >ended up getting a voice mail again and left a message for them to

> >call him. They did not. So, on Tuesday, I went back up to the

> >benefits claim director here at work to let them know what is going

> >on now (my benefits director and division director here at work are

> >trying to help me now). We spent an hour and 12 minutes on the phone

> >with Cigna trying to get someone to let us talk with the medical

> >director or a nurse. We were going to conference my doctor in with

> >the medical director if we could get him on the phone. We never did

> >get to talk to the doctor or a nurse. The people we were on the

> >phone with said they could not get a hold of the doctor or a nurse.

> >This was all after we had been transfered from one number to another

> >6 different times. We are talking from one state to another also.

> >After an hour and 12 minutes what they did do was assure us that they

> >would give the medical director another message(this is about the 6th

> >message he has been given to my knowledge)and have him call my

> >doctor. Well, guess what? That call never came....again. So, my

> >doctor called me yesterday and said that he had dictated a letter

> >documenting what he had done. I went and picked it up lastnight. I

> >am giving a copy of it to our benefits director here at work. Now it

> >is a wait and see what happens again. I am going to tell the

> >benefits director that I am giving them until Wednesday, September 27

> >at 10:00 a.m. to have an answer for me or I am calling the Insurance

> >Commissioner in Indy. I have had enough. Sorry, this was so long.

> >I guess it was time to vent again.

> >

> >My parents live in Arcadia which is about 1 hour Southwest of

> >Orlando. My husbands parents live in Leesburg which is about 30

> >minutes Northwest of Orlando. Have you heard of Clermont? It is

> >right outside of Orlando going Southwest I believe. My brother-in-

> >law and his family lives in Clermont. He is currently working at

> >Disneyworld as far as I know. He is a contractor.

> >

> >I am happy for all of you that have had the surgery and I know my

> >time will come. I am not going to pray for patience anymore. You

> >know what they say about being careful what you pray for. Actually

> >prayer for me has been rather difficult in the last few months. I

> >find myself telling God what I want him to do and that kind of prayer

> >has always been awkward for me for some reason. I guess it's the who

> >am I to tell God what to do?, that bothers me.

> >

> >Better go for now.

> >

> >Bonded by our experience, strength and hope,

> >

> >Rhonda

> >

> >

> >