My surgery is scheduled for November 12, which is coming really fast. I called my insurance BCBS MN a couple weeks ago to see if I have been approved yet and they told they hadn't received anything for the dr office. After many calls to the 1 person that submits everything she told me that she was still working the ones for the end of October. So she said she would probably get it in on Oct 29. I called and called on Friday and she never answered, never called me back. SO today I have been blowing her phone up and no answer. I called BCBS and they still dont have anything there yet. WTH? It less then 2 weeks away and the person for BCBS said it may take up to 30 days!!!! Im freaking out! I cant just reschedule my surgery, everything at work has been planned. I dont have a normal job, when Im not there it effects other peoples schedules. I just dont know what to do!!! :thumbup:

For the last two months I was exactly where you are. Waiting on the doctors office to submit my information to BCBSNC. They finally did on October 22 I was approved the same day. I did not know this until I checked the mail on October 30 and BCBSNC sent me a letter in the mail. I spent the morning today calling the office just to get a date. I refused to set a schedule date without insurance approval. I got my date of Nov 29, 2010. My job is the exact same way and I just dropped the bomb with the email! Please hang in there!

I have BCBS New Jersey. My paperwork was submitted by Dr. in August and I did not receive my approval letter until late September. I was just banded on October 19th. My job is like yours - it effects the schedule of others, people have to be moved from other positions to fill in for me. Your BCBS may be a little faster than mine, but I would keep contacting my Dr.'s office. Best of luck!

Hang in there... I was told I was DENIED for the surgery for 3 weeks.... Then they sent the last of the paper work a few days ahead.... I was prepared to self pay- even brought a hefty check as "down payment." ...I was APPROVED 2 days before surgery....

Point is... HANG IN THERE! Don't totally freak out yet... keep calling... ask if YOU can do anything to get this rolling...

I to have BCBS but live in IL.Everything sumitted Aug 4 just recieved approvel letter Oct 19.I had been doing preop diet in hopes of getting approvel quicker.And that all paid off cuz called suregeon office got preop labs,chest xray and ekg.Also my surgery iis tomorrow!!:thumbup:

This must be frustrating to you I know you dont want to hear this but the office must be extremly busy. Even when the office turn everything in BX dont get to it right away either. I know for a fact my doctors office sent all my paper work in as well as repeated phone calls to BX and it still took almost 3 months to get approved.

thanks for the replies everyone... I finally talked to someone. she said it is fine and there will be enough time for it to go through, and she said not to worry. SO I guess I will just trust them and keep my fingers crossed.

My surgery is scheduled for November 12, which is coming really fast. I called my insurance BCBS MN a couple weeks ago to see if I have been approved yet and they told they hadn't received anything for the dr office. After many calls to the 1 person that submits everything she told me that she was still working the ones for the end of October. So she said she would probably get it in on Oct 29. I called and called on Friday and she never answered, never called me back. SO today I have been blowing her phone up and no answer. I called BCBS and they still dont have anything there yet. WTH? It less then 2 weeks away and the person for BCBS said it may take up to 30 days!!!! Im freaking out! I cant just reschedule my surgery, everything at work has been planned. I dont have a normal job, when Im not there it effects other peoples schedules. I just dont know what to do!!!

I think surgery is your right decision!

Grrr! So know they called and said it will probably be the following week. I'm so upset because its really going to mess with my time off from work. They also said that they may call me next thursday and i can have it Friday so I cant say i can work next weekend. Is this a sign saying I shouldn't do it?!

It took my insurance for-ever to tell me that they need one more medical paper from one of the doctors. When they finally got it it took them two days.

It is funny you mention signs and stuff. I did too. First time I said if they deny me that would be a sign that I shouldn't have started it all in the first place.

When they told me that they can't approve me because I was missing one of the doctors approval I said - well, I did so much to get it already - why not go all the way.

And I did. I lost 30lbs in 4 weeks. This is my 5th week and I am about to have my first fill.

I am sure the weight loss will stop being so rapid and I am supposed to loose only 2-3 lbs a week but hey - the more the better for me. I just have to make sure I eat Protein and drink multivitamis.

Good Luck.

If I had to go it again - I wouldn't stop at anything.

I have BCBS of IL

Edited November 8, 201015 yr by frici

how did your surgery go? I haven't set a date yet and am a candidate, but my doc says I should try other methods first. I know this is what i want, and will have no regrets doing it. My doc says that most people who get this done experience heart burn. Have you had any? I've never had it, so I don't know what it feels like.

umm... on the last message - in my case I did not have any heartburn at all and I have never vomited but I do dry burping a lot and I sort of have gas since I have irregular bms due to small amounts of food I consume now.

So, jenndubbd, I am curious too now - did you have your surgery yet and how did it go?