Medi-Cal/Central California Alliance for Health

[Chris10 4]

Hi Everyone!

Well this is my second time going through this process! This time I have Medi-Cal and it's taking longer to get into appointments.

Over a year ago I had Anthem Blue Cross, went through all of the requirements, and was scheduled to have surgery December 2013. I had a BMI of 41 and had joint issues and poly cystic ovarian syndrom (PCOS). I was told without extreme weight loss it would be very difficult for me to have children. Well at the end of October I found out I was pregnant! Yay! However, that meant I had to postpone my surgery. I ended up having some complications and was put on bed rest half way through the pregnancy. My son was born perfectly healthy in June.

Unfortunately, I was still in my year probation at work and they released me (understandably) because I couldn't work. That caused me to lose my insurance and go onto Medi-Cal.

Now I am on Central California Alliance for Health through Medi-Cal. I talked to my surgeon and they accept my insurance but because it's been over a year I have to go through the whole process again. I had to switch primary care doctors and had an appointment to get my referral. The doctor I saw rescheduled me to see the main doctor in the office because only she is allowed to give referrals. She is super busy so I have to wait until December to see her.

Does anyone else have alliance?? I want to get an idea of the requirements so that I can request any referrals I'll need all in one shot.

Thanks in advance!

Christen

[bellabloom 2,467]

a friend of mine did- she didnt have to do a waiting period diet. It was fairly easy for her to get approved.

[bellabloom 2,467]

I would be pro-active and look around for another primary care doc to reffer you. After all, it's along enough proccess without having to wait forever. Also I would make your pysch appointment asap as that can atke a long time to get into.

[Chris10 4]

Thanks! With alliance when you change your primary doctor it doesn't go into effect until the next month. So I decided to just wait and see this doctor. I went in today and she said they are going to process the referral and I should get a letter and hear from the bariatric surgeon within a few weeks. Luckily since I've already gone through everything before she said it shouldn't be too long of a process.