Waiting on approval from BCBS of IL

[thinner-me 160]

I have everything ready for the surgeon's office to submit to BCBS of IL. I am under a time crunch, because I am a teacher and really want to get this done this summer while I'm off. I am panicking thinking the paperwork is going to sit at the surgeon's office for awhile before they send it. And then they said it could be up to a month for the insurance to get back to them. So my questions are: 1. Anyone have BCBS of IL and how long did it take to get final approval and 2. Who can I call at the insurance company to check on the status and make sure the papers are there? Thanks in advance for any help!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I am also waiting on BCBSIL. My surgeon submitted on the 10th of June 2015. I am also eager to get the surgery during the summer. I guess we can wait together.

[thinner-me 160]

I am also waiting on BCBSIL. My surgeon submitted on the 10th of June 2015. I am also eager to get the surgery during the summer. I guess we can wait together.

Looks like we are going to the same office. You are going to Dr. Minkin and I'm seeing Dr. Scott. Did they call you when they submitted the papers. No one told me they would do that. Just call us in a few weeks if you haven't heard anything. I would love to have actual notice that it was submitted!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I called to check if they received the clearance form from my cardio doc and she told me they submitted me to insurance on the 10th.

I had my nut and other eval at des peres on the 8th. So i guess as soon as that was completed they submitted.

Have you called the office?

[thinner-me 160]

I called on yesterday to see if they got my surgery clearance from my doctor. She said yes, she had filed it that day. So I said, so you will be sending it all in to insurance now? And she kind of sat there a second and said, well I don't know if you had everything there. Well, I think maybe you did. I said I should have. And she said, yes, we will send it. That was it. Didn't give me a whole lot of confidence that it was going to get done in a timely manner!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Well even though these Doctors work together in the same department at the hospital, they each seem to run their own office.

I called BCBS this afternoon, tried of waiting. I am approved! They said the letter should be mailed out to myself and my provider in the next couple of days.

That means about 2 weeks from submission to approval and a little more time for letter to come in the mail.

[thinner-me 160]

That's great news! Did you just call the customer service number and start asking? Not sure who I should call at BCBS? And make sure you let me know your surgery date once you receive it from the office! ????

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Yes. I just called the number on my card and told the automated system I was calling about benefits. The rep called pre-authorizations and to care of everything.

[thinner-me 160]

Ok, great! I'm going to do that too either tomorrow or Monday-just to see if they got it!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Any updates?

[thinner-me 160]

So frustrated. The office told me they would send it in at the beginning of last week. Called insurance today and they say they have nothing! My days are dwindling down since I'm a teacher. Beginning to think this is t going to happen for a long time! ????

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I'm sorry to hear that but don't give up hope.

[coopervane 7]

How frustrating. I have BCBS IL also. When I called them to discuss my benefits the lady told me to tell my dr office to write URGENT on the approval paperwork. Not sure if it really helps or not but she said it a couple times. I am for sure going to ask my surgeons office to do that. Best of luck.

[thinner-me 160]

How frustrating. I have BCBS IL also. When I called them to discuss my benefits the lady told me to tell my dr office to write URGENT on the approval paperwork. Not sure if it really helps or not but she said it a couple times. I am for sure going to ask my surgeons office to do that. Best of luck.

I think I may tell them that!! Thanks!!

[thinner-me 160]

Got a call from the office today that my papers will be going in in the next day or two. I still think it is too late for this before school starts, but at least it is something!