Insurance approval steps?

[bandabear22 3]

Hey guys

I just got back from my first PCP Appointment. She told me that I need to write a letter to my insurance company explaining every detail of why I need this surgery. Then she said I give it to her for my dr office to help me get approval from insurance while they look for a bariatric surgeon for me since there isn't one in the network. Meanwhile She ordered for me to get my labs done so we are ahead of the game..I have Aetna and I'm located in California.

Did anyone else have an experience like this?? Any advice is appreciated. All I know is I'm great at writing and this is going to be the best damn letter I've ever written. ????

[maggie0210 117]

It was very different for me. My PCP referred me to the hospital in my area. They have a weight loss program. Either by diet group meetings or weight loss surgery. Then they check and recheck for health problems. They submit the paperwork to insurance company. You wait for denile or approval. Then go from there. Very different.

[anaxila 501]

My experience was just like @maggie0210. The people staffed by the bariatric surgery program took care of everything. They made all the contacts with the insurance company, kept track of what was done / undone, and submitted everything for me. All I had to do was get my PCP to write a letter of support for the file and fax it over to the program to include in the packet.