Is this unusual? re: insurance approval

[MistyDTX 0]

I have been researching the lapband for a while now and signed up online for a seminar that is this Wednesday. The doctor's site had an online application too so I filled that out. I gave them my insurance info, told them about all of my prior attempts at loss and about my current health issues. I did this about 2 weeks ago.

This past Friday I got a call from the office telling me I had been approved and they could schedule my pre-op visit. I freaked out! I mean, I haven't even been to the seminar yet. I am really still in a information gathering stage! It was weird to me that they would already have an approval before I ever even saw the doctor!

I fully expected it to take months before I would get an approval. I have lurked here and have read of other struggles with their insurance companies. I am excited about the seminar and learning more about the procedure but at the same time the reality of it is scary!

[vessa 1]

That's incrediable! I didn't sleep for two weeks waiting for my approval, and i know there are others that have waited far longer. I had to go through 8 months of medical crap and a psychotherapist even before they would submit a letter to insurance. If you go for it, lucky lucky you.

[Mary-2b150 0]

It's not unheard of - but definitely not the average!! My insurance was really quick in the pre-auth too.. it took a few tries for them to actually receive the fax, (the doc sent it to the wrong number a few times).. but once they got it, they approved me in like 48 hours - I was amazed! No diet documentation was needed either - I couldn't believe it!! The stuff that slowed me down was getting my psych, nutrition, and medical evaluations.

[Wheetsin 714]

This past Friday I got a call from the office telling me I had been approved and they could schedule my pre-op visit. I freaked out! I mean, I haven't even been to the seminar yet. I am really still in a information gathering stage! It was weird to me that they would already have an approval before I ever even saw the doctor!

What would concern me about this is that they're taking everything word of mouth, and insurance companies don't work word of mouth, they work paperwork. So I wonder exactly what they submitted to your insurance company considereding they didn't even have one piece of medical record that had your weight or confirmed BMI on it.

Are you sure you're approved through insurance for the surgery? They may have just meant you're approved for a consultation, or for the seminar maybe if they consider it an office visit or something.

To me, it would be completely unheard of to be approved for surgery with no medical records or documentation at all, just anecdotal informatuon submitted via the patient online.

Definitely be cautious with this.

[brandottie01 0]

my office does the insurance approval while you are waiting on going to a seminar. Once you are approved they schedule you for a pre-op visit and you go to a class on the lap band from there. I was denied the same day I had to self pay so it is a blessing if you are approved by insurance.

[Big Fred 0]

<p>That's terrific,</p> <p> </p> <p>I have to wait a total of six months and document everything along the way.</p> <p> </p> <p>I'm scheduled to be banded in October if all goes well.</p> <p> </p> <p>Best of Luck !!!!</p> <p> </p> <p>Let us know how your doing.</p>

[MileHighGreen 0]

This is unusual from what I have been seeing. The surgeons office could only confirmation that my insurance didn't totally exclude paying for WLS before I submitted all kinds of information. I have been denied but am going to appeal the denial. If this is for real, and you decide go forward best wishes to you. You have been spared a bunch of hassle.