Patience is a virtue...... (pshh)

[sassyfrass23 525]

Last week I completed and passed my psych eval along with my 2nd visit with my surgeon & NUT. Today I completed my 6th and final supervised visit with my PCP. I have submitted my letter of understanding, letter of recommendation from PCP and 6 month documentation to the surgeon's office. So now I'm waiting to receive the calls to schedule my EGD & GB ultrasound...

I am trying my darndest to be patient but it feels like the process is taking soooooo longggggg.

Can you tell me about how long it took to submit to insurance, receive approval and actually have surgery after this point? I understand your situation may not be the same and the timing will vary. But I really need to give my employer a semi-accurate guesstimate as to when I may be out so they can schedule accordingly. And I haven't the slightest clue as to what to tell him other than 2016

[brandy25 7]

The process for me was about 8 months. But my insurance company required 6 months of visits with my primary care physician. I began in April ish and I'm scheduled for Dec 30th. It is a long process and kind of a waiting game towards the end. Try to be patient, you'll get there

[James Marusek 5,244]

For me it was about 2 months from the time I completed the 6 month physician monitored weight loss and exercise program and the surgery. This time period had a lot of activity including: pre-op tests, second round of pre-op testing with specialist in field of concern, very detailed training course.

[kvoneye 210]

For me it was almost instantly. I got approved right away. All I needed to do was have my psych eval, which I did right away and then I had to lose 25 pounds,which I took my sweet time. All in all from start to finish was one yr. I didn't have to redo anything. My hw was 256 Oct 2014, surgery Oct 15, 2015 weight was 227 and this morning 198. Like others have said, it's different for everyone. Keep thinking positive.

[Djmohr 6,965]

For me, it took 8 months to get from the starting point to insurance submission.

My paperwork was then faxed to the insurance company in the morning and by 1pm the same day I was approved. I was in surgery 3 weeks later!

Now I have to say I was shocked at how fast it got approved once it got in there but all that prework to get the paperwork right probably made it very easy for the insurance company to approve.

I will say my insurance company required I use a Bariatric center of excellence and they did everything and were very experienced at submitting for this surgery. Had I gone through my PCP I would probably still be waiting. She was very incompetent and is no longer my PCP.

Good luck to you!

[miiasan 370]

My whole process took about 4 months. I did not have a weight loss required by my insurance (although I lost 29 lbs on my own), but had the normal psych, nut, egd, blood work, etc. etc. When everything was completed it took about 3 days to get the paperwork to my insurance and then only a couple days for my insurance company to approve. From my approval date to my surgery was only two weeks.

I also went through a center of excellence. They had all the people in place to get everything done efficiently and quickly.

I guess everyone's experience is a little different. Be patient...and good luck!