Big Binder of BS

[SAD HATTER 122]

So, I sat down and printed all the forms that the insurance requires to be filled out for my file. I printed all the forms that the Optum nurse requires. I printed all the forms that the surgeon requires. I have a binder filled with crap. I faxed off 10 pages today alone. I have 5 pages that have to be filled out and signed by my pcp at each visit, and then places those have to be faxed. My insurance advocate from Optum told me it was much faster and easier to get approval if the papers were filled out that the insurance provides. Luckily Scott & White now has a patient portal, so I can print my chart from each visit and put it in my awesome old lady binder. I put tabs for all my monthly paperwork, and tabs for all my craptastical forms, and tabs for all my informational research and bathroom reading.... I feel sorry for people that might not understand insurance or technology enough to take advantage of all these neato things that can facilitate the approval process. I actually feel good about this today, and more in control than I did. United Healthcare has been wonderful....now... to save for that 10% that I will have to pay... lol

[mrs kaje 347]

I have one of those binders, but I enjoy record-keeping so it's actually fun for me (in fact, I have the day off today and I have big plans that include updating my folder. Ok, so that's the only plans I have for today. Stop judging me! ).

But yeah, the amount of forms I have been given is crazy! Then I have all the information from the seminars, and stuff I've researched and printed off. Plus I keep a copy of all the test referrals and the results. Printouts of all my progress charts... spreadsheets I've created... ok I'll stop now.

[SAD HATTER 122]

I like having binders. I also like post-it notes and stickers. Colored pens. Felt tip fine point sharpies. Envelopes. Etc etc etc

[PaulaleeB 88]

So, I sat down and printed all the forms that the insurance requires to be filled out for my file. I printed all the forms that the Optum nurse requires. I printed all the forms that the surgeon requires. I have a binder filled with crap. I faxed off 10 pages today alone. I have 5 pages that have to be filled out and signed by my pcp at each visit, and then places those have to be faxed. My insurance advocate from Optum told me it was much faster and easier to get approval if the papers were filled out that the insurance provides. Luckily Scott & White now has a patient portal, so I can print my chart from each visit and put it in my awesome old lady binder. I put tabs for all my monthly paperwork, and tabs for all my craptastical forms, and tabs for all my informational research and bathroom reading.... I feel sorry for people that might not understand insurance or technology enough to take advantage of all these neato things that can facilitate the approval process. I actually feel good about this today, and more in control than I did. United Healthcare has been wonderful....now... to save for that 10% that I will have to pay... lol

I too have uUnited healthcare and an Optim nurse coordinator, but it turned out that the customer service rep.from UHC was asking/and requiring things that were Not required by my policy. So, just double check with the Optimum Nurse. She saved me lots of paperwork and grief. Best of luck to you. Paula

[SAD HATTER 122]

I have a call scheduled for march 3rd. I have several questions. I also would like to kniw which bmi they use to qualify. If i loose too much i will drop below 40 and then requirements change. They did give me an LCRA page though. That is where my husband works. So I bet the requirements are correct. Im ok with them. Ive been fat for a long time. Whats a few months. Ha

[mclorrie 219]

So, I sat down and printed all the forms that the insurance requires to be filled out for my file. I printed all the forms that the Optum nurse requires. I printed all the forms that the surgeon requires. I have a binder filled with crap. I faxed off 10 pages today alone. I have 5 pages that have to be filled out and signed by my pcp at each visit, and then places those have to be faxed. My insurance advocate from Optum told me it was much faster and easier to get approval if the papers were filled out that the insurance provides. Luckily Scott & White now has a patient portal, so I can print my chart from each visit and put it in my awesome old lady binder. I put tabs for all my monthly paperwork, and tabs for all my craptastical forms, and tabs for all my informational research and bathroom reading.... I feel sorry for people that might not understand insurance or technology enough to take advantage of all these neato things that can facilitate the approval process. I actually feel good about this today, and more in control than I did. United Healthcare has been wonderful....now... to save for that 10% that I will have to pay... lol

I have United Healthcare too, and Optum didn't send me any forms to fill out. She didn't even mention any forms either. The only thing she sent me was brochures on weight loss surgery, and told me about a few websites that would be beneficial to help me eat better, and another that provides great info on WLS.

When I went to my initial weight loss seminar - they gave me a big binder of information about WLS, and I had several forms to fill out with that - that I turned in with my first appt. with my surgeon. I read on another post about you having to do the six month supervised visits. Tomorrow I'll be half way through mine. I thought this was going to take forever, but actually, it's going pretty quick!

I've been busy with appointments - cardiologist had me do three appts. before I got his clearance, I have my supervised appts. and will complete my psych eval appts. next Tuesday. I have one group session I have to complete too, which I'm doing the first Saturday of March. So after that - I'll only have three more supervised visits and will be waiting for my surgery date!

Good luck on your journey, and I hope it goes fast for you!

[SAD HATTER 122]

I think it will go by pretty quickly. Tax season will eat up half of it. Then by may, school is out and the kids will keep me busy at home, trips to the lake to go tubing, camping. My daughter sings (she is 11) and she gets to sing in Branson, Missouri in April, so right now I am focused on that show. Then in June and July she is at camp. So, I should stay pretty pre-occupied. Which is good. Every day I try to make better decisions than the day before.