I have BCBS FL - Health Options.. I called BCBS in the beginning of July 2009 to find out my coverage. I was told that they covered the Lap-Band®® if medically necessary. At that point I went to the seminar, paid for 2 visits and testing at the psychologist, paid to see a dietitian, had the appointment with the surgeons assistant, the blood work she ordered, and an appointment with the surgeon. I paid the surgeons $200 program fee. I was given a surgery date, the pre-op liquid diet, and the pre-op labs. I was 4 days into the liquid pre-op diet and already had the pre-op labs drawn when my insurance denied my the pre-certification for surgery. I would have never spent hundreds of dollars or gone to all of the appointments if I hadn't been told by BCBS it was covered when medically necessary. (my BMI is over 46, I am over 100 pounds overweight, I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and have been overweight for years with many diet attempts)
It's been a few weeks since my September canceled surgery date. I've filled out papers for my doctor's office that they got through LAP-BAND®®.com and the obesity law firm. I filled them all out and hand delivered them to the Dr's office and still nothing. I have called BCBS and they have no record of receiving any appeal papers for me. Does anyone have any suggestion what I can do to speed this along? Everyone that I talk to just seems to pass me to someone else..
Thanks so much