already approved and thinking of getting a different surgeon

[Kami 9]

I don't have a problem with my surgeon, just with the incompetence of the office. I was trying to be patient, because it wasn't all their fault.

I had my last weigh-in of my 3-month supervised weight loss on May 24. The insurance person in the office said she'd file it within a week (which seemed rather long to me, but whatever). Well, before that time, she went on medical leave. When I called two and a half weeks later to check on the status, I found out it hadn't been filed yet. I was told to call back in a week to check on it, because the nurse and nutritionist were going to try to figure out how to file things. (bangs head against wall here)

So, they ended up hiring someone to do the job of the lady on medical leave (thank goodness). She filed on June 21, and I had approval on June 23! (Yay!) I still don't have a date.

The next delay was legitimately my fault, as I rescheduled my PCP appointment because I figured the clusterf$*@#& in the office would take longer to clear up than it did. So, within a week of getting the approval, I had my PCP clearance, which I was told was the only thing remaining before I could schedule a date. So, on July 1 I called to see when I could schedule my surgery. Well, the person who does the scheduling doesn't work on Friday's, so she'd get back to me the next week. I was told that she schedules for 7 surgeons, so it could take a few days.

The week goes by, no call. I call on Friday (7/8) and was told she doesn't work on Fridays. I called on Monday 7/11 and was told by the insurance coordinator that she hadn't yet sent over my packet to the scheduler. W. T. F. ?!?!?! She was apparently sending it over right then, and I should get a call within a few days. Well, here it is Thursday, and she doesn't work tomorrow.

So, I'm going to call or stop by today (I'm going to be right by the hospital where the office is). If I don't have a surgery date by today, it won't be until Monday at the earliest.

I'm just so fed up with the incompetence in that office.

So, has anyone ever gotten an approval and then switched surgeons? I know there are others that take my insurance. I'm thinking of calling them and explaining that I have my approval, and asking if I can become a patient, if they can schedule me soon.

What would you do?

[former_vbg 198]

I can certainly offer you my experience on this type of issue.

I also had my approval with a surgeon, and their office was beyond incompetent- but because I am a unique revision patient I felt like I didn't have many surgeon options and tried to bear with it. Their office staff took THREE MONTHS to get my approval processed. Then, 2 wks before surgery was to happen, I find out they were trying to pull a fast one that involved insurance fraud. Needless to say, I didn't have to think very long about changing surgeons. Fortunately I found another one quickly and was able to get the re-approval (formality mostly) through Aetna PPO, and had surgery within a month's time.

The surgeon I ended up going with also has a pretty MESSED UP office staff, but didn't realize how much until after I had the surgery. I guess because I didn't have to deal with them to get the original approval, I wasn't seeing it as much. No insurance fraud stuff, but half the time they never answer their phone (DURING BUSINESS HRS), they WAY overbook their office visits making you wait an hr beyond your appt time because they are behind, most of the time you can never get an answer on anything important because the person you need to talk to isn't there.... the list goes on. Thank goodness the surgeon seems to be good at cutting anyways, and although that ranks higher on my list, I do expect competency from the office staff. They can actually screw A LOT of things up making your life miserable with missing paperwork, wrong information, etc.... Their office messed up my paperwork for disability from work and had I not caught it, it would have caused problems at work- or at the very least a great deal of frustration getting fixed after the fact.

My surgery was out of state I will NOT be going back to them for follow ups. My local PCP cares more about my post-op than they do- and seeing him doesn't require going out of town.

So, just some things to consider. Getting the re-approval is not that big of a deal. If you have concerns about the staff, I would SERIOUSLY consider finding another surgeon.

I don't have a problem with my surgeon, just with the incompetence of the office. I was trying to be patient, because it wasn't all their fault.

I had my last weigh-in of my 3-month supervised weight loss on May 24. The insurance person in the office said she'd file it within a week (which seemed rather long to me, but whatever). Well, before that time, she went on medical leave. When I called two and a half weeks later to check on the status, I found out it hadn't been filed yet. I was told to call back in a week to check on it, because the nurse and nutritionist were going to try to figure out how to file things. (bangs head against wall here)

So, they ended up hiring someone to do the job of the lady on medical leave (thank goodness). She filed on June 21, and I had approval on June 23! (Yay!) I still don't have a date.

The next delay was legitimately my fault, as I rescheduled my PCP appointment because I figured the clusterf$*@#& in the office would take longer to clear up than it did. So, within a week of getting the approval, I had my PCP clearance, which I was told was the only thing remaining before I could schedule a date. So, on July 1 I called to see when I could schedule my surgery. Well, the person who does the scheduling doesn't work on Friday's, so she'd get back to me the next week. I was told that she schedules for 7 surgeons, so it could take a few days.

The week goes by, no call. I call on Friday (7/8) and was told she doesn't work on Fridays. I called on Monday 7/11 and was told by the insurance coordinator that she hadn't yet sent over my packet to the scheduler. W. T. F. ?!?!?! She was apparently sending it over right then, and I should get a call within a few days. Well, here it is Thursday, and she doesn't work tomorrow.

So, I'm going to call or stop by today (I'm going to be right by the hospital where the office is). If I don't have a surgery date by today, it won't be until Monday at the earliest.

I'm just so fed up with the incompetence in that office.

So, has anyone ever gotten an approval and then switched surgeons? I know there are others that take my insurance. I'm thinking of calling them and explaining that I have my approval, and asking if I can become a patient, if they can schedule me soon.

What would you do?