sarcruze 24 Posted July 19, 2016 On 7/11 I went to my PCP to get a referral for wls. He said I was a perfect candidate because my BMI is over 40 and I have high blood pressure. He told me he was sending out the referral to his referral department that day and it would take 7-14 days to hear back from the insurance company. He also said to call in a week and check up on the status. So I called Monday and of course I get someone who does not usually work in the referral dept. UGH!!!! She said that with my insurance, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, takes up to 2 weeks for approval and that she did not know when it was sent but that she would write a note to see if it was sent already. I am impatient right now because I want to get the ball rolling with starting my 6 month supervised weight ins. How long did it take for you all to get your referral approved to start your wls program??? I'm just hoping I get a call in the next few days. Crossing my fingers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kimba Maria Wiggins 81 Posted July 19, 2016 I didn't need a referral because I called the surgeons office myself and they ran my Medicaid number over the phone (and approved me for visits before even stepping foot into her office). I have Straight Medicaid, but everyone's insurance is different and may have to go through a referral process. I'm almost done with my 3 months of supervised weigh ins/nutritionist visits and hopefully will have surgery this upcoming September. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
busybeebug 415 Posted July 19, 2016 I have a BCBS plan and I didn't need a referral to go for consultation or info session this Friday will be #5 of 6 visits with my pcp so I am in the home stretch of the 6 months of PreOp supervision. It goes faster than you think! Hang in there! Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarcruze 24 Posted July 19, 2016 Congrats Kimba!! That is just around the corner. how exciting. Can't wait to see your progress. @@busybeebug, I didn't need a referral to go to the info session for wls but I do need one to get my first consult with the surgeon and to start the program. I went to the info session last Tuesday. Now I am just waiting to start the whole program and get on with the weigh-ins . 6 Months just feels like forever. So, I just called my doctors office again today and they had yet to work on my authorization to send it to my insurance for a referral. It's been over a week. So angry! The guy said that he will work on it today or tomorrow and send it in to my insurance company. I sure hope so! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarcruze 24 Posted July 23, 2016 I found out the other day that my primary insurance was my United Healthcare Tricare west region not My United Healthcare Community Plan with AHCCCS. So I called my UHC Tricare Insurance company today and the agent told me that my authorization was approved on 7/20. YAY!! He also told me that my servicing dates were from 7/20/16 until 1/20/17. Has anyone's insurance company told them that before? Does that mean that I will have to have my surgery before that date? I was told from my PCP that I would have to do 6 months of medical weigh ins and also from the Bariatric Patient Advocate. Hopefully that has now changed since my primary is with tricare and not the community plan/ahcccs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
