Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

SURGERY CANCELLED 3 days before it was scheduled



Recommended Posts

I' m so upset. My surgery was scheduled for Nov.9 but I received a call this morning that it has to be cancelled. Per my doctor's office, my insurance company will not approve the surgery because the hospital is not a "Center of Excellence". My insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem).......Extremely frustrated. Anyone else had this problem?????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

no - I have BCBS fed and I don't know about if the hospital I had my surgery at was a "center of excellence". as far as I am concerned they were AWESOME!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Why was your surgery scheduled before insurance was approved? My doctor's office wouldn't even put me down for a tentative date until my insurance approval came back. Regardless, this seems like a requirement you should have known about at the beginning.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm so sorry to hear this. It amazes me that they couldn't have figured out there was a problem way before now. Hope you're able to work something out. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Why was your surgery scheduled before insurance was approved? My doctor's office wouldn't even put me down for a tentative date until my insurance approval came back. Regardless, this seems like a requirement you should have known about at the beginning.

I agree. How could they schedule without approval? That would be a HUGE red flag for me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You don't say what state you're in, but I do know that here in CA, the health plans all have specific hospitals they stipulate as Centers of Excellence - they are the facilities where the volume of surgeries done and the outcomes reported are better than in other facilities.

I just can't believe that your surgeon's office didn't know this up front, this is the sort of thing that anyone involved in getting these approved knows backwards and forwards.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

not approve the surgery- hospital is not a "Center of Excellence

@

i was told very early by insurance i must go to a Center of Excellence

found 2 hospitals that were COE

took it from there

finding a center of excellence hospital

shouldn't be too hard

call your local hospitals

if their is no one immediately around

you will have to check out areas around you

i was so excited to have surgery scheduled

i didn't think twice about having surgery scheduled before my approval

luckily i was approved

sorry for the delay

being told 3 days prior to surgery - OMG

the tears must have been flowing

hopefully you will be approved sooner than

i can only imagine how upset you must feel

good luck

kathy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Mine has that stipulation here in Ohio. But I knew about it up front and made sure the hospital was approved.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would call the insurance company and find out what hospitals locally they would approve at. It may mean switching doctors, but the wait time should be close to nothing since you were already scheduled. I'm so sorry. I know how upsetting and frustrating and heartbreaking it is. Don't lose sight of your goal -- keep to a light diet - and before you know it, you'll have a new (and approved) hospital!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I' m so upset. My surgery was scheduled for Nov.9 but I received a call this morning that it has to be cancelled. Per my doctor's office, my insurance company will not approve the surgery because the hospital is not a "Center of Excellence". My insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem).......Extremely frustrated. Anyone else had this problem?????

Anthem BCBS specifically states that the hospital must be a Blue Distinction Center of Excellence. You can log into your online account and check to see which hospitals in your area fall under this designation. You can also check to see which doctors are affiliated with those hospitals.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You can search blue cross blue shield center of excellence for bariatric surgey and a list will come up with hospitals in each state. I know my insurance will cover my surgery completely if I choose one of these hospitals and only a portion if I go to a hospital not on the list. Good luck

Edited by baileyj908

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From what I have read in this group many Dr's pencil their patients in on their surgery calendar prior to approval.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Mine has me penciled in pending insurance approval. Dec. 18. He only does surgeries there on Fridays & the next two Friday's of the year are holidays. So, they wanted to get me on the schedule.

Also, my insurance, BCBS, also suggested that we send all records after my 2nd nutrition visit, next Friday, since they can take up to 30 days to approve. My last nut visit is December 11 & I am needing surgery the following week! That way they can review everything pending that last appt & will know sooner if it's a go or a no go.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From what I have read in this group many Dr's pencil their patients in on their surgery calendar prior to approval.

Yup, I'm scheduled for December 1st but my insurance hasn't approved it yet. I asked my surgical coordinator about it and she said the 2 weeks is plenty of time and they rarely have any issues with my insurance. I'm prepared for them to have to move it back but if they don't then I'm ready!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a similar experience however the hospital I started with actually lost their "center of excellence" status right in the middle of my pre op stuff. Had to start all over at another Bariatric Center 6 hours from my house . But the good news is that my surgery is November 16th and this liquid pre op diet sucks!!!

Edited by tinkrmybells

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×