When I started the process we had BCBS but could not get them to pre-approve the surgery. We are fortunate enough to have choices, we changed to First Care. They were great, they approved it right away and they paid allmost all of the cost. I am not a fan of HMO's and have in the past avoided them but, I changed to this just because I knew they would cover it, now I will stay with it because they have been so much easier to deal with.