Dr's office told me they were submitting two weeks ago

[Mellyb251 30]

I am so disappointed - the bariatric coordinator told me when we spoke two weeks ago that she had everything and was going to submit for approval from my insurance company that day. I called today just to double check and see if any progress had been made with the approval. When I called today I got the other bariatric coordinator who told me that they had not even submitted! She looked at my file and said that indeed everything was set to be submitted and she wasn't sure why it had not been submitted already. She is going to submit tomorrow and now I will begin the waiting game all over again.

This isn't the first time this girl has dropped the ball either....

My husband called the office because I was so upset and they weren't super nice to him although I heard the conversation and he was calm and not hostile or rude at all. I'm afraid they will now purposely delay it longer. Has anyone ever switched doctors at this point? Would they give all my information to another's doctors office?

Any advice is appreciated!!!

[2muchfun 8,927]

I switched. I was approved with my insurance and when I called the docs office several times and emailed them too, they took 6 weeks to respond. But, I'd already found another doctor. No need to put up with crap like that. Aftercare is as important as the surgery itself.

Edited June 26, 2014 by 2muchfun

[Mellyb251 30]

Did you get the approval from your insurance and then go to another doctor? I'm wondering if I go to another doctor right now will I have to start the process over.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Call your insurance only they will know. I didn't have to start over.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

your medical records are yours. you can go to another doctor. when you find a doctor you want to go to have them send a request for your records. be sure they request all your records that the insurance company needs. I become very angry with companies that say tomorrow, or 5 business days. this is the age of technology. why couldn't that coordinator fax your package to the insurance company? no answer needed here. lol good luck on your Quest.

[gowalking 10,790]

Also make sure the office manager knows why you left the practice. The coordinator is losing them business....and believe me, it's very much a business. She has to be held accountable. Good luck...I'm sure you'll find a doctor with a better office staff. This type of thing is a real red flag in terms of follow up care.

[LumpySpacePrincess 594]

The surgical coordinator that I had to deal with was a temp while the regular coordinator was on maternity leave. I loved the girl who was out on leave, but her replacement was anything but helpful. Didn't seem to really know what she was doing.

The reason I stayed with my surgeon, however, was because I believed in her surgical skills and her policy of care. She is an outstanding surgeon, and I had to remind myself that once I was approved by the insurance, I wouldn't have to deal with the coordinator anymore. She may have been annoyingly inefficient, but she wasn't the one doing my surgery.

If you believe in the surgeon himself, stick with him. The other coordinator sounds like she might know what she's doing so try to only deal with her from now on. I think trying to find another surgeon might just draw the process out at this point. Keeping my fingers crossed for approval for you!

[rose2014 81]

I too had issues with paperwork getting misplaced. I had been approved for weeks but the approval went to the hospital not the office. I called my insurance and found out I was approved. Pissed I was to the point of finding a new surgeon. My son said don't delay your surgery for the incompetence of staff. If I had gone with another surgeon I would have had to start over. Having faith in my surgeon and tomorrow will be 5 weeks post op.