What I am learning from this experience it not to trust what you are told. The predetermination assistant at my surgeon’s office assured me when I completed all the insurance requirements that I didn’t need anything else, she was going to fax all the documents to the insurance company for approval. I waited a week and called back and she said they hadn’t heard anything, so I called the insurance company and was told they just received the fax and it was missing information and they had called and left a message with the predetermination assistant at my surgeon office. So I call her back and she said she would check her messages to find out what they needed. So she called be back two hours later and told me they needed the last doctor notes from my PCP faxed to the insurance company. I had to rush to the doctor office request the notes in person and have them faxed over. I watched them fax it and called her back and was told they didn’t receive anything. So I drove home and faxed if from my fax machine received a confirmation it was sent and called them this morning and was told they finally got it. Now I am waiting again for my approval from the insurance company. Oh and I was told yesterday that because I haven’t received my approval yet that my surgery is pushed backed from Nov. 9 to Dec 1., is that some bull!@#$.

I find that it is typical, and I have to say for nearly ANY business. It's a wonder ANYTHING can get done, what with seemingly a majority of workers just not giving a sh*t and doing only what they need to do to get by.

I too have left messages, faxes and emails only to finally call the person later and find that they didn't "get" any of my messages. I had confirmation pages and email receipts to prove otherwise. They just don't want to deal with another form of communication and I suspect they just ignore them. Unfortunatly this is the "norm" for the health care profession.