I'm in the waiting phase for insurance approval. My baratric nurse sent the information in yesterday so i'm expecting to find something out no later than Aug 17th, i have United Healthcare. I also have 2 pre op classes scheduled for Aug 2nd and Aug 9th. I was hoping to have the surgery sometime in August but based on these dates it maybe September. Does it really take 3 weeks for insurance approval? Once i get the approval then the surgeon will schedule my surgery date and any labs, tests etc. I will also have to do 2 week liquid diet prior to surgery. I'm excited but nervous in this final waiting stage, i will feel so much better once i get the insurance approval. Please share your story for time frames on insurance approval and from this point how long did it take to have the surgery.

Good Luck... Each insurance company and case is different... The person that submits insurance for my doctor told me it would take at least two weeks and possibly even a month. She was shocked when BCBS of IL approved mine in 2 days. I think it's rare that it happens this quick but in my case it did. Luckily they moved my surgery date up by 3 weeks.

In the information seminar my doctor advised up to a month, different insurance companies vary. In my consultation I was advised my insurance takes about 2 weeks (Healthnet of CA, ***). Mine was approved in 9 calendar days and that included Memorial Day weekend!

I was surprised, HMOs don't usually move that fast for me.

Best of luck to you.

I called my insurance to see if it would be approved. They told me yes, so I called the surgeons office and spoke to their insurance person and gave her all my info. I got my appointment for pre-op and they gave me orders for the test. I called and set up the appointments and faxed the orders myself. I was really proactive in getting everything done. My doctor sent a head and scheduled my surgery, my insurance said that they would approve it, if all the test cleared me for it, so as soon as all the test were sent to the doctor (I ask for them to rush results) my insurance gave the go ahead - 3 weeks and done.

I have BCBS federal and I am hoping the authorize quickly. I think the gal at my surgeon's office submitted everything last Thursday, so fingers crossed we hear back this week...I am calling them tomorrow when she is back in the office to see if there is any word yet. I'd really like to have surgery in August, so I have lots of time to recover before a scheduled trip at the end of September.

I also have BCBS, my dr.'s office sent all my paperwork in on the 23rd of July on the 30th I called insurance company and they expected to have an answer by August 3rd and said I should call back then. I have did all the required testing just waiting for approval and I assume I schedule my pre-op stuff. I have a 2 week liquid diet as well. The clock is ticking and am anxious to get it done in August as well. We are getting closer, it's been a long road I started my first appointment April 23rd

I also have BCBS Federal and it took them exactly one week to approve. I called numerous times and one rep told me they go by the surgery date that is submitted , so those with dates sooner rather than later will be reviewed first.

hmmm, I don't know if they gave a surgery date to mine...they haven't given me a date yet...now I really have to call Kelly tomorrow and see what is happening with it all.