Whats the fastest pre-op clearance has been done?

[byebyebmi 100]

Right off the bat I want to say that i'm seriously not trying to rush things, I'm just curious about how fast the process can be done based on my situation.

I had the initial consultation on June 6th. My packet says that I have to do two nutrition visits and one support group, plus a ton of medical clearances. I had one nutrition visit in June, and I have one July 24th. I think that for most people the medical clearances take a long time because it takes awhile to get in with a cardiologist or pulmonologist if you've never had one before. However, I had a pulmonary embolism in 2013 and already have all these doctors so I was able to get appointments with them right away. My sleep study, pulmonary function test, chest X-ray, bloodwork, endoscopy, EKG, primary doctor clearance and psych evaluation will ALL be done by the last day of July. Plus, by July 24th i'll have completed both nutrition visits and a support group meeting.

It seems like everyone is saying that if my first consult was June 6th, I won't have the surgery until early-mid September. But i'm wondering if thats true for everyone if the requirements are met. Do I just have to sit around in August and wait? The only thing my Amerihealth policy says is "The individual must participate in preoperative surgical care through a multidisciplinary preparatory regimen including: a thorough medical clearance, consultation by a professional on low calorie diets and mental health evaluation" So it doesn't explicitly say 3, 6 or 12 months.

Is there any way my doctor could submit the packet in August and see what happens?

[ASUgrad 61]

My insurance will cover it 100% as long as I:

1. Have a letter of necessity from my PCP

2. Have a 2 year weight history from my PCP

3. Have a 3 month doctor supervised weight loss diet within the last 12 months

I have everything except the doctor supervised weight loss. I have been to the PCP and began this diet and am currently 3 weeks in. Only 2 months and 1 week to go. Otherwise I have all other info the insurance will need. I've already had my pre-op appointment and underweight the psychological testing. Once my diet is over, the hospital will send to insurance which usually takes 3 weeks. In the meantime I will go thru blood work, classes, and another appointment with the surgeon. Once insurance gives the okay then I'm good to go. The hospital predicts I will have my surgery late September, early October.

Edited July 10, 2015 by ASUgrad

[danaadoo 26]

I guess there's a chance that you can try and get those things done asap, but insurance is triply like that. My insurance doesn't require a lot, so my waiting is max 2mo.

[byebyebmi 100]

@@danaadoo The main reason I was asking is because I wasn't trying to get everything done ASAP on purpose, I just called my doctors to make all of these appointments and I was already a patient of theirs so I was able to get in really quickly. I actually got in to see my pulmonary doctor the next day because there was a cancellation. I think it takes some people a lot longer to get an appointment, sometimes even 1-2 months. I'm hoping my insurance is like yours and I can get approved in August instead of September!

[keddykat75 57]

Well I got approved 3 weeks after my initial consultation and now I am sitting around waiting for my dr's office to call me back to schedule. It is my dr's office that is dragging their feet.

[danaadoo 26]

@@danaadoo The main reason I was asking is because I wasn't trying to get everything done ASAP on purpose, I just called my doctors to make all of these appointments and I was already a patient of theirs so I was able to get in really quickly. I actually got in to see my pulmonary doctor the next day because there was a cancellation. I think it takes some people a lot longer to get an appointment, sometimes even 1-2 months. I'm hoping my insurance is like yours and I can get approved in August instead of September!

Right. Making appointments are a pain because how far you would have to make them out. Yes I really hope this goes as quickly and smoothly for you! Good luck and God Bless on your journey!!

[byebyebmi 100]

@@danaadoo You too! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! I'm here if I can help in any way!

[Daisee68 2,493]

I would say it depends a lot on how busy your doctors office and surgery schedule is. Once I finished my last NUT appt (and everything else had already been done), my Dr office filed same day at noon on a Friday and had a response by Monday morning. I got a call a few days later to schedule surgery and though I had to wait 4 weeks from that date, that was by my choice due to work conflicts. I probably could have gotten it done in 2 weeks instead of 4. To me late August sounds like a reasonable expectation for surgery.

[Running2theSleeve 40]

My insurance requires the >40 BMI and the psych clearance. My surgeon requires the EGD, bloodwork, PCP clearance, Pulmonary, attend a meeting, and meet with exercise specialist. Well, these 'specialist' appointments are out to Mid-August and September. I asked the surgeon's office once I've seen the psych (appt 07/21) would they be able to submit to the insurance? She said the doctor likes to have all the orders completed before submitting to the insurance. But I don't understand why when BCBS only requires the psych clearance and BMI.

Now I will be done with the insurance requirements by the end of this month. I could possibly be approved early August and have surgery schedule in September. BUT with the surgeon's requirements I am now looking at a October - hell maybe even November date. ugh!!!

I'm feeling you ThickAndTired .. why can't the surgeon's office submit to insurance?

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

If you have the free time to take appointments whenever offered, less than a month. I had all my pre-op done in around 6 weeks and the only reason it took that long was memorial day and vacations. It could have probably been done in 2-3 weeks easily.

It took 5 weeks from first meeting with the Dr to insurance approval, and within 8 weeks total to being sleeved. I didn't have any obstacles or roadblocks in the process. It all went very smoothly.

[byebyebmi 100]

@@OutsideMatchInside that's how I'm hoping it will go for me, because not only do I have a flexible work schedule but I also already have all of the doctors and specialists I would need (PCP, cardiologist, pulmonologist) so I'll have all of the clearances from them by the end of this month. And I would hate to have to sit around and wait because of some insurance technicality.

[byebyebmi 100]

@@Running2theSleeve I'm sorry it's going to take you so long to get those appointments! I guess the only "good" thing that came out of having a pulmonary embolism in 2013 is that I already have all of these specialists so when I called them for clearance they got me in within a week or so. I know I'm lucky in terms of that. Maybe you could get on a cancellation list or something? People cancel appointments all the time!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I was also able to get all of my appointments really fast. I think you will be through this in no time! Good luck and keep us updated!

[BrandNewCB 50]

I had my initial visit on January 7th and was sleeved on March 2nd.

[BrownEyedTxGirl 139]

I had my initial consult on May 21st and my surgery will be August 3rd. I completed all of my requirements/appointments in 5 weeks and that was even with switching surgeons! My doctor is really busy and has a 4 - 5 week waiting period so thst has been the longest part of the process. You could probably ask your surgeons office how far out they are booked right now?

I am cash pay and had originally hoped for a July surgery date but it is worth the wait to go with this surgeon?

Good luck with your journey! Your date will be here before you know it!