jodie1961

Well, today I spoke w/doc's receptionist. Bless her heart, she was swamped the insurance clerk is no longer with them. I believe I am not the only issue with problems stemming from her work/lack of work. The receptionist has all the details and was going to call the insurance company herself and get Doc scheduled to do the peer to peer meeting with Anthem. Hopefully, this will help them to reverse their original denial decision. I see him next Monday either way. Praying this works. Thanks for being a forum I can vent to, share with and get through this whole process with.

I called this morning and got my Doctor's insurance clerk's voicemail. Left a short message, basically that I had spoken to an insurance service rep's supervisor and I needed to talk to her as soon as I could, left my number. After lunch, no call, so I called the main office, got an answer machine again, left a message for the receptionist to contact me and no call. Tomorrow, I will call in the morning again, and if I don't hear back, I well take a late lunch and go to their office. I don't believe there is an office manager there. They are short handed, one girl left at the first of the year. Am I expecting too much? I have been waiting since February 7th for an answer, and really should have had a peer to peer meeting scheduled after my December letter of request was denied. Any ideas?

I don't know why these things happen and seem to pull us down, but if you have already confronted those feelings and issues (which I can only imagine are some of the hardest things you have been through), then you are one STRONG woman! You can get through this too. Prayers your way. Keep us posted.

Thank you Melanie36 for telling me that. I haven't seen too many discuss the denial and appeal process. I pray the "chat" will do it. And I agree the stress of waiting and not knowing is killing me. Trying to keep my chin up, but just such a blow yesterday, it was almost a knock out....but, not quite I will succeed.

Congrats, praying for you all. Let us know how you are doing.

Sounds funny to say, but I am looking so forward to starting my liquid diet....means my surgery will be scheduled. But, I can definitely feel your pain too. This will be a revision, so I have done it before. Try doing something to take your mind off the hunger....word puzzles, Sudoku, etc. I cant seem to eat and read or do puzzles or be on the computer. So keep those hands busy, and I will be praying for your time to pass quickly! Stay strong, you CAN do it!

I just got my clearance from the nutritionist today and the psych evaluation came in approving me as a candidate while I was at my appointment! So excited. My doctor said they would send RNY request letter to the insurance company, in the order they get to it. Should be this week yet. He went ahead and made an appointment for next month, but we are hoping the approval from insurance comes before that. Then they will cancel his appointment and schedule me with the surgeon. I had an endoscopy 12/25/13, so I won't have to redo that. They only require one week of liquid diet before surgery. Praying to get my surgery before April 13th, so I can use the end of my vacation before I lose it. Just had to share, I haven't told a lot of people or family. So not many I can tell! Thanks for being there.

So bummed out...everything signed off and ready to send to insurance 2/11th....called 2/24th and the Dr.s office was behind and still had not sent in my request letter. They said they would do right then. 2/26th they finally sent letter. Insurance says could be up to 10 business days...so today was the 10th day and no word. Called the insurance company and they say they don't have any requests in for me. Called my Dr.s office and the girl says she did send. She will call them and get back with me. Of course no word back today.. They are closed now. I have 6 days of vacation left to use before 4/13/14...and in February my Dr was sure we would have scheduled before then, not so sure now. Please, pray for patience and an answer for me. Thanks.

mommashari...I would love to get together, it is a shame there is not just a wls group period. No matter where you went. You can learn so much from others. Do you have a set time and place? I am getting anxious now, tomorrow will be the 10th business day for my insurance to have my request. Hoping to hear something this week.

Sorry still learning how to use this...I am having mine in Evansville at Downtown Deaconess Hospital. Dr. Chris Haughn is my surgeon.

I will have mine in Evansville at Downtown Deaconess. Dr Haughn is my surgeon.

Yay you!!! So exciting! Keep up the good work, and spend this time learning from many experienced WLS people here - they are sooo supportive.

Yes, Newburgh Indiana-awaiting insurance approval, then surgeon meeting w/surgery date....can't wait!

Congrats to both of you! Wishing you both a smooth recovery. I am awaiting my insurance approval. Crossing my fingers. keep up the good work,

Glad you are here. Hope you find the support you are looking for. I am having a revision from a band to RNY. No problem getting approved for the removal....awaiting approval on the RNY now (denied the first request). Had to re-do classes, psych eval, etc. But, my letter was just sent to the insurance company again yesterday. Hang in there and know you are doing the right thing to have a healthier you!

That is great msfitn2014! Make sure to check back in...maybe we will be scheduled close to the same time.

Well, I called to check in with my Doctor's insurance girl today. She said she has been so backed up and they have been short handed, so she hasn't gotten to my file yet....it will be 2 weeks tomorrow. Anyway, she promised to pull it out of the pile and do it today. She said she would mail a letter to me also, so I have the date to keep track of. I guess it could be the middle of March before I hear. Bummer, I really wanted to get scheduled before the middle of April, so I can use the end of my vacation from last year.

Thank you for your encouragement. Keep us all posted.

I have not told all yet. Of course my husband and grown children know. They all are supportive. I have 1 friend and one co-worker/friend that I nearly had to tell, as she is who I report to for time off, and the many doctor appts I have been to. My hesitation is that I had the lap band several years ago (which I will have taken out, then revision to RNY) and it didn't work. Even had a revision surgery on it. After the first surgery, I did tell all, and nearly all were supportive. But, now I am afraid some will judge me because it did not work, and this is even more intrusive surgery (and the easy way out as I have heard some of them say about others). So, I haven't even told my mother this time. I guess they will find out at some time, but would like to learn my new way of eating and dealing with food/emotions/situations without the eyes of the world on me.

Rearaes..that is great to know. I got a letter telling me when the doc office sent request the first time, but no letter so far this time. I will call them Monday. It will be 2 weeks Tuesday that I was cleared for the surgery from the NUT and Psych Eval...Hopefully soon. Thanks for the info.

Good for you! You will prevail. It is great that you have been recording your info on my fitness pal....it is a great tool. And I agree you will/would have much of this done before surgery anyway. Keep on keeping on...and let us know how you are doing.

Congrats! That is awesome, you don't have to worry about that now. We have enough to do and think about, without worrying about the insurance approval. I have everything done, just waiting on my approval now. When will you get to meet with the surgeon and schedule a date?

Good Luck Delillieflower on your new you!

I really felt you hit the nail on the head when you said you felt like you were melting out of a fat prison. I have never thought of it that way, but it really is. It holds us hostage and keeps us from living life. Thank you for that perspective. I am still nervous about doing a major surgery to get this weight off, but it has not happened any other way. Waiting on insurance approval now....getting closer. Thanks again for that thought, It is time to be set free.

I have Anthem BC BS. I had band surgery in fall 2007..worked pretty good until summer of 2008...had a blockage, then gall bladder removed in November 2008..surgeon took out band and repositioned it during that surgery (that option not even discussed before the gall bladder removal). Anyway, it never worked right again. So, November 2013 I have requested to it removed and revised to the RNY. Insurance okayed band removal, but denied the RNY. I had to go thru all the nut classes, and psych evaluation again. will finish that up next week, and resubmit the RNY request. I will let you know what the out come is, I hope by the end of February. I am getting quite anxious and still nervous that they will deny me again. Good luck to you, I have seen many on here that have no problem getting approval for revisions.