Anthem BCBC Authorization Time

dustout · September 4, 2007

I was wondering how long others had to wait recently for Anthem BCBS to authorize for this surgery? I've done everything they said I needed to do and fit the requirements. My PPO referred me and I saw the lapband surgeon, went to the dietician and psych eval, etc.

I'm now waiting for authorization before I can proceed to finalize this and set a surgery date. I've been waiting on insurance to authorize this for a month.

Is it normal for it to take this long? My Lapband doctor (Dr. Keith of Norman Oklahoma Weight Loss Options) said I should hear back in a week or two but it's been a month now. I tried calling them early last week but the insurance lady wasn't there so I had to leave a message and haven't heard back from them.

I was hoping to have already had this done due to college scheduling and such but no luck so far. Insurance is slow it seems...

Anyone else having slowness with Anthem BCBS?

GoMe · September 4, 2007

I have Federal Anthem BC/BS. Not sure if that's the same as yours. Mine was submitted on a Friday and approved the following Monday. I called the insurance company myself to see if they had received it and that's when I found out I was approved even before the surgeon's office knew.