So Anxious...

perfectdayelise · August 23, 2016

I'm waiting for my insurance approval to come through and I'm so anxious. I just need a place to vent.

I've met (I believe) all of the requirements for surgery. I had my last appointment with the surgeon on July 22 where we decided to proceed with surgery, and scheduled it for August 29. I had a few more things to accomplish (follow up visits with the health psychologist, visit with my PCP re: high blood pressure) and did all of that as quickly as possible. They finally submitted the paperwork on August 8, and now my surgery is in less than a week and I have yet to hear anything. I literally can't sleep.

I've called the insurance company twice to check in. The first time was on the 12th. I was calling about something else, but I asked about it and they said there "were a few notes...nothing bad" and it looked like they were sending out something within the next day or so. I called again on Friday (8/19) because I had my preop appt, and they said it was still in review. The woman on the phone was very nice and said she'd also had wls and got her letter a couple of days before her surgery. I brought it up at my preop and the nurse coordinator said it would be fine, that I had good insurance and it would be OK. She also said they don't mind if I check in, but they get annoyed if the surgeon's office does.

I was hoping I'd hear something early this week, and I am completely stressing out about it. It doesn't help that I'm on my liquid diet and also just stressed about the surgery. I just want to be calm and certain so that I can avoid worrying myself sick. Everyone keeps trying to reassure me but I can't relax.

Does anyone else have experience with having their surgery scheduled and still not having approval? I keep reading conflicting advice about being a squeaky wheel vs. annoying them and moving to the back of the list. I also assume that they know my surgery date, but I'm not sure.

It's been really tough trying to "plan a vacation" at work and not knowing if I'll have to push it back for no reason...plus it would be really inconvenient if I did as my particular job is very busy in the fall, which is why both the surgeon and I made this surgery date our goal. Also, since my surgeon only operates on Mondays, I'd have to push it back at least two weeks.

KristenLe · August 23, 2016

@@perfectdayelise Someone went thru this last week or so and the approval came in shortly after her post. Maybe that'll do the trick! I would not hesitate to call your insurance and explain that surgery is only in a few days and you are hoping for approval soon. There's no reason for them to take this long.

perfectdayelise · August 24, 2016

You are correct! It helped me feel better just to vent about it last night. I called my insurance this morning when they opened, and found out it is marked as approved and the letter is on its way!

I can't believe it's finally really real. Now on to being nervous about the surgery itself!!

@@perfectdayelise Someone went thru this last week or so and the approval came in shortly after her post. Maybe that'll do the trick! I would not hesitate to call your insurance and explain that surgery is only in a few days and you are hoping for approval soon. There's no reason for them to take this long.