Surgery Date Before Approval?!

[Kristy29 0]

I have already done my 3 month pre-op diet, plus an additional month because I hadn't lost my 5%. I did all my pre-op testing (cardiologist, egd, psych eval, etc) during the 3 months. I have everything I need, and met with my surgeon on Monday. That day he scheduled my surgery for August 26th, so a little over 2 weeks out. They also sent my paperwork into the insurance company that day, so I had my date before my approval. It makes sense to me, since they can easily cancel my surgery if I don't get approval, but this way I am already on the schedule when I do get approved.

I am glad they do it this way, because I am going to Japan on October 25th, and I wanted my surgery to be as far away from that day as possible. This way it is exactly 2 months minus 1 day, so the timing is good.

[sourmissg 0]

I had to see a psychiatrists a polmonologist a cardiologist and a gastrologist plus 6 months of seeing a nutritionist. Anyone else deal with all that?

Yes I had to see the same Drs. also

[rkwilliams1013 0]

All I had to do was 6 months of MD supervised weight loss, nutritionist, and the psychiatrist. I also had to attend a support meeting, and jump through some pre-op hoops (upper GI series, EKG, and bloodwork). Now I'm just waiting on my surgery date... I will call them again today and hope for the best.

[Lauren L 0]

I was just submitted for approval, and if all goes well im getting my band on the 26th of this month. She set me in the schedule as "pending approval" but once I get my approval, I know that is when my surgery will be. I love my surgeons office, they are FANTASTIC!

[rkwilliams1013 0]

Yay! I got my surgery date scheduled for Sept. 2nd! I'm so excited, but now I'm nervous because its REAL! My phone has been attatched to my hip for a solid week, I go get my purse out of my car for two seconds and she called....had to leave my surgery date on my voice mail- just my luck. But, I'm excited nontheless!

[CSinTX 0]

My doctor's office would not schedule surgery until I was approved. To make things worse, they are scheduling three to four months out! I had my orientation seminar in August of 2009, did my six months diet under my PCP, had a psych eval, met with the nutritionist, did the EKG and labwork, and was finally approved in June. I was very excited thinking it would just be a matter of weeks before my surgery, and found out that it won't happen until the end of October.

I was upset for a few days, but decided I would use the next few months to educate myself as much as possible about the band, and be thankful that I have insurance that will cover my surgery.

By the time my surgery date rolls around, you may already be banded.

Have you checked your approval letter from the insurance company to see if you have time limit?

My approval letter clearly states that my approval is only good for 90 days from submission (not approval).

[anewanna 0]

Have you checked your approval letter from the insurance company to see if you have time limit?

My approval letter clearly states that my approval is only good for 90 days from submission (not approval).

My letter states that I have approval for a year. So, as long as I'm banded by next June I'm good to go.