Insurance Approval - Federal BCBS

[10 28 2014 45]

Did anyone with Federal BCBS take more than a week to hear back whether or not they were approved? I was told that my package was submitted for pre-certification on 10/3 and still have not heard back on if I was approved or not. Meanwhile, I was told by my Dr.'s office to start the two week pre-op diet on 9/30 and today has been two weeks of three shakes a day and one lean/green meal. Meanwhile, the Dr.'s office also told me it usually only takes a day or so for them to hear back. I'm hungry, anxious, and frustrated!

I have a two year old, a full time job, and a need to know when to fly my Mom up, but everything is still up in the air and its driving me crazy

[jessiquoi 623]

did you call the insurance company? if not, do. i called mine and found out it was still pending. i'm calling again today. i don't have the same plan as you (i'm federal aetna pos) but any insurance company will answer your questions if you're patient enough to go through their "press 1 for ..." stuff.

[10 28 2014 45]

Yes, I called a few times and got that it was pending, approved, and back to pending. Basically, they won't tell me why or when.

[jessiquoi 623]

that stinks. i just got off the phone with mine, and was told it's still pending and that they requested additional information from my doctor's office. i called the doctor's office and was told they are handling it, but that now i won't be done in october as was previously planned. totally bummed about having to wait until 11/4.

[10 28 2014 45]

Ugh! I'm wondering if that what happened with mine, but all I get from my Dr.'s office is we'll call you when we hear. I'm still praying for next week, but think that will be a miracle at this point

What hospital are you planning on?

[jessiquoi 623]

i'll be at harford memorial in havre de grace. where in maryland are you? i work at apg in aberdeen.

[10 28 2014 45]

I'm in Rockville, but my surgeon is in Frederick so I'm not sure if I will be having surgery up there or down here. I told them whichever they could get me into faster. Coincidentally, my surgeon used to be in Havre de Grace!

[Rovobay 920]

BCBS FED here. it took them less than 48hrs for me. sorry for your troubles. soon it will all be behind you and nothing but weight loss in your future!!! good luck

[mefosburg 18]

Is there an insurance policy specialist at your doctors office? If so I'd call that person and talk with them. I have fed bcbs. When I inquired about my status I was told they wouldn't talk to me about it. Only someone from the office. I was approved within 48 hours as well.

Do you have a copy of the policy? Have you done all of the requirements? Is there any missing paperwork they are trying to acquire?

Just some thoughts. Good luck!

[10 28 2014 45]

Yes, and I have contacted her several times. She's not giving up much information. I definitely completed everything that is required by my plan, but I have no way to know what she submitted.

I emailed her this morning basically asking her to contact them since it's been over a week. We'll see...

[shellyd88 463]

Call your ins comp and ask the status of your application sometimes they haven't notified the dr yet or u may get a letter stating u were approved or denied drs office can sometimes get behind on paperwork and not get thru it all in a timely fashion

[10 28 2014 45]

BCBS will only say it is pending...Heard back from my surgical coordinator last night that it seems the BCBS person assigned to my case was out for a few days and they are backlogged. URGH

[zcortes21 12]

Did anyone with Federal BCBS take more than a week to hear back whether or not they were approved? I was told that my package was submitted for pre-certification on 10/3 and still have not heard back on if I was approved or not. Meanwhile, I was told by my Dr.'s office to start the two week pre-op diet on 9/30 and today has been two weeks of three shakes a day and one lean/green meal. Meanwhile, the Dr.'s office also told me it usually only takes a day or so for them to hear back. I'm hungry, anxious, and frustrated!

I have a two year old, a full time job, and a need to know when to fly my Mom up, but everything is still up in the air and its driving me crazy

I have BCBS and it took just 3 days. Call and see if it's still pending.

[10 28 2014 45]

So it's been over 2 weeks since my case was submitted to BCBS with no answer yet. I've been doing the pre-op diet for 3 weeks & am hungry! Fingers crossed that I get an answer soon

[OnePhatWhoDat 54]

I signed into my BCBS Federal patient portal, and sent an email asking about the status of my packet. Was submitted on 8/27. Approved on 9/2. They emailed me back the next morning and told me they'd approved me. It took four days before my surgeon's office said anything in the way of an official, "You've been approved!! Congratulations!" They did this on 9/7. Also, BCBS had sent a letter to me stating the procedure had been approved. Got that on 9/4. Good luck to you. I've been sleeved four days today!