Hi Everyone,

I'm new at this. I have been reading the site a lot but never had the nerve to write. Well I'm hoping to be banded soon. I'm waiting on Insurance. Got approve first time for Dr. Speigel in March and surgery was sit for May 30, 2006 and on May 6, Dr. Speigel nurse called and told me that they no longer took my insurance. So I was all upset so I called my insurance UHC and ask them to refer me to someone and they gave me a list of Drs. to use. So I called one of them made my appointment done all of the test. Sent me to a cardiologist went through weeks of test. Got the letter from the cardio. saying I was cleared for surgery. Waited about 3 more weeks and then the second Dr. office calls me and says sorry we don't take UHC anymore. I was so messed up I just wanted to quit! But I am trying one more time. I hopefully have found a doctor who is going to take my ins. and Now I am just waiting again on my insurance for another approval. Please Keep me in your thoughts!! I need all I can get. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers!!!:help:

Wow, that is messed up. Good luck-third-times-a-charm and all-but seriously, don't give up. Just "regroup" if you have to . sometimes it takes awhile, patience, prayer, and supportive people from this website go A LONG WAYS!

I'm a little concerned. I just went to Dr. Speigels seminar July 8, and they did not indicate at that time that they wouldn't accept UHC. Are you sure they meant United Healthcare or just that your particular policy didn't cover the procedure?

I just got off the phone with Dr. Speigel office and they submitted my paperwork yesterday (July 12th).

Hope you get your insurance issues resolved. Confidence in your surgeon is important to the success of the procedure!

Dr. Speigel did quit taking UHC but is now back. A lot of people don't care for him but he is one of the best and I was'nt treated anything but the best and have been since surgery.

I had UHC and went out of network. They don't cover as much but I am happy to have had the surgery. Best of luck.

I really liked Dr. Speigel (his staff was a little inexperienced, but that's OK). I liked his dry sense of humor, and felt very reassured that he was going to give me the best care available! I like that he had done over 4000 (as of June 30th) lap-band procedures. I like that the place where the surgergy is to be done is ALL they do.

Did get a little bit of that 'cattle call' feeling, but that's understandable and really the most efficient way to handle a large volume of people. His time is much better spent giving a 'seminar' a couple of times a week rather than a 2 hour speiel one on one. He wouldn't have time to do any surgeries.

Found out that they didn't submit my paperwork to UHC until yesterday. That means it will still take a while before I hear anything. <sigh> oh well.

:guess I am sorry there are so many road blocks! All I can offer is a big hug. I hope that you get your approval soon sweetie. What a wild ride!