Insurance question!

[sierraaux1 0]

I have WellCare in KY, I was wondering if anyone familiar with the insurance process could help me.
I received this message from my insurance:
“Our records indicate that the authorization was received and approved. The authorization was approved for 1 day/visit(s) and is valid from 3/30/2020 to 5/30/2020.”

Does this mean the earliest I could have my surgery is 3/30/2020?

[catwoman7 11,212]

yes - it means you can schedule the surgery for any time between those two dates.

[sierraaux1 0]

Even though I have everything done, I still have to wait two months? It seems strange.

[catwoman7 11,212]

Just now, sierraaux1 said:

Even though I have everything done, I still have to wait two months? It seems strange.

they often schedule surgeries a couple of months in advance, unless it's an emergency. The surgeon may be booked up until then. It was a couple of months for me as well.

[sierraaux1 0]

But my insurance shouldn’t be the ones doing the scheduling, right? It should be my bariatric clinic. Does the bariatric doctor communicate with the insurance? Is that why it’s so far out because he is booked?

[catwoman7 11,212]

5 minutes ago, sierraaux1 said:

But my insurance shouldn’t be the ones doing the scheduling, right? It should be my bariatric clinic. Does the bariatric doctor communicate with the insurance? Is that why it’s so far out because he is booked?

yes - your bariatric clinic does the scheduling. I suppose if the clinic is scheduling before or after that, they'll clear it with the insurance company first.

Although it could be that when your bariatric clinic sent your paperwork in to the insurance company for approval, they put those dates on the form - so those dates may have originated with your bariatric clinic, not the insurance company. You can always call the bariatric clinic and ask. But it's not at all unusual for surgeries to be booked a couple months in advance.

[sierraaux1 0]

Thank you for your responses! I’ve asked everyone I know and they all have no idea. I’ve heard sometimes a “dummy date” can be used. I will just have to wait til Monday to call the bariatric office.

[DB in AZ 46]

To be on the safe side, why don't you call your insurance? Ask to speak to the Authorization Dept.

[sierraaux1 0]

I chatted with a customer service agent through the web portal. Apparently the dates were submitted by my bariatric clinic. So either they’re booked until then or they just wrote a date tentative to change. Won’t know until Monday when they open unfortunately.