Waiting for insurance to approve!?

[Marie8777 136]

My info was sent to the insurance company on sept 8th and I've been waiting. I decided to call today to see if I can get some info from the insurance company. They told me they're waiting for my case worker to send them 2 things that are missing and they need it before sept 16th by 12 noon. I called my case worker she said she got the info and to not worry that she will take care of it. I'm so scared to get denied and I hate the waiting game. Has everyone every experience this? How long do they usually take to approve?

[WL WARRIOR 690]

My file was sent to the insurance company Sept. 5th. I actually just called my insurance company this morning and was on hold for 30 min. I got tired of waiting and hung up. I'll probably try again this afternoon. The bariatric nurse said that my file goes to the hospital before the insurance company and I should expect to wait 4-6 weeks.

I purposely put myself in a lower income bracket so that I could obtain insurance that would cover this surgery. Not only is the pre-op process hard, but so is learning to live on such a low income now. I even have to wait another 4-6 weeks after insurance approval for something called "chart review". They have had the past 8 months to review my chart, so I have no idea what this last phase in the waiting game is all about.

Like you, I'm getting anxious with all this waiting around. I decided last week that maybe this is a good time as any to put my weight loss efforts in triple gear (without surgery). Good luck on your mission!

[Stephanie Rodriguez68 34]

I bugged my insurance advocate at the surgeon's office to death. I was told the only hold up was the psych eval . So once that was done, my paperwork was supposed to be sent. Psych eval was sent on Fri, Aug 29th, paperwork was supposedly faxed on Sept 3. I waited a week and bugged the advocate again after the insurance company said they didn't receive anything. He refaxed my info on Sept 10th. I even called the insurance company and surgeon's office to verify it had been done. I am sure they were getting tired of me calling.

Well this afternoon, I received a call telling me I was APPROVED!!!!!! Yay!!! I am so excited. My husband said I just needed to be patient. I told him if I was sitting around being patient, I would still be waiting, LOL!!!!

I am set to go in for a pre-op class this Friday, then start my pre-op diet on the 24th. I have a projected date of October 8th. Will confirm this date tomorrow with scheduler.

I hope you all get good news soon

[Marie8777 136]

I bugged my insurance advocate at the surgeon's office to death. I was told the only hold up was the psych eval . So once that was done, my paperwork was supposed to be sent. Psych eval was sent on Fri, Aug 29th, paperwork was supposedly faxed on Sept 3. I waited a week and bugged the advocate again after the insurance company said they didn't receive anything. He refaxed my info on Sept 10th. I even called the insurance company and surgeon's office to verify it had been done. I am sure they were getting tired of me calling.

Well this afternoon, I received a call telling me I was APPROVED!!!!!! Yay!!! I am so excited. My husband said I just needed to be patient. I told him if I was sitting around being patient, I would still be waiting, LOL!!!!

I am set to go in for a pre-op class this Friday, then start my pre-op diet on the 24th. I have a projected date of October 8th. Will confirm this date tomorrow with scheduler.

I hope you all get good news soon [/quote.

I'm going to keep calling and congrats Hun and best of luck

[ready2B 263]

Marie - I can sympathize. I had to stay on the insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office. It seemed like every single step of the way, there was a delay because of missing paperwork, something that wasn't faxed properly, etc. It was so incredibly frustrating having such a major life event for me in the hands of someone else! I think most of us are really anxious especially about the insurance approval and these caseworkers are used to being bugged. So if it gives you peace of mind, call her to verify that she has indeed sent the rest of the info, then call the insurance to verify that they have received it. Nothing is more annoying than finding out a week or so later than something else fell through the cracks!

By continually checking up on things, I finally was approved and scheduled. I think I'd still be waiting too if I hadn't kept bugging them. Good luck!

[Sweetjess602 12]

Glad to hear the good news! I'm in Phoenix, AZ and using Medicaid (Care 1st) insurance. My surgeons office said they faxed everything last Friday and that they should start working on it Monday. Was told to expect about a 4 week (business days) wait before I hear anything. I'm super nervous about being denied but I try to forget about everything hoping that will make time go by faster. I just want to get this over with!!!

[Schwinngirl1987 21]

My paperwork was just turned in on the 25th of September so I suppose I'm in for the thirty day wait to find out if I'm approved. I started this journey last December so it's been a long road. For me, it was my doctor I had to bug all of the time to turn her paperwork (6 month diet notes) into the bariatric nurse so they could send it in to insurance. I think that took up two months alone! Now, I just want to get there and am loosing patience lol. I'm seeing a lot of people on here who have BCBS through other states (I'm in Kansas) and are paying huge deductibles for their surgery. I also have BCBS as a state employee of KS and this is the first year we are getting coverage for this surgery. Kind of worried.

[Sweetjess602 12]

I was approved by Healthnet on Oct. 23! I was originally submitting with Care1st as my Primary Insurance and Healthnet as my secondary but I was incorrect. We had to switch my primary around and then resubmit, which only took 48 hours. My surgeons office (Dr. Sprunger) submitted to Healthnet on Oct. 8th and I got my approval on Oct. 23. I was super anxious and excited but now I'm scared as all get out!! I'd like to start a support group in person or via telephone if anyone is interested. I have NO support group right now because I'm not telling my family as they most likely won't approve. I'm in Phoenix, AZ. Please feel free to get in touch. My email is jessica.bullis@yahoo.com. My pre-op appt. is Nov. 10th and my surgery is Nov. 21 (so much for Thanksgiving food!)

[DuchessD 6]

Hi Jessica, I am new to BP but was checking out the insurance comments. It looks like we may be on similar paths. I go for my EGD on 11/11, and my Pre Op appt with dr on 11/12. After that, if all is in order, it will get submitted to my BCBS Federal. I am hoping the wait will not be too long. I want this to be over and move on.

Donna

[sickkids 0]

Once all my paperwork is sent in my insurance company has 15 working days to give me an answer. That's their policy I guess

[DuchessD 6]

Just found out that bcbs wants the records of the first surgeon from my 2007 lap band. Looking for compliance. If I had great success I wouldn't be looking at a bypass.