So... I called my insurer and they are still saying that the surgeon has not submitted the paperwork! My last visit was 2 weeks ago! I realize that I am not the only patient, but what in the world could the surgeon's office be doing to prepare the documents that could take 2 weeks? When I email the coordinator, she says that the paperwork has been forwarded to the patient advocate and that I should keep calling my insurance company every few days to check on the status! WTH? Of course, that's the polite way of saying don't call us! Annoying....

Does anybody know what the patient advocate might be doing with the documents other than sitting on them?

Can you call the patient advocate? the squeaky wheel gets serviced much quicker. I'd keep calling them every day if I have to so that they get so annoyed, they will call and find out what the hold up is. Better yet, try calling your surgeon and ask him. because the bottom line is, $$$$$. Keep at emmmmm!

Don't give up! Keep calling every day, multiple calls a day. I did that and I got my sleeve done in less then 2 months from my consult visit. Be polite and ask for copies, send them to your insurance yourself. I did this with much of the requirements for both the surgeon and my insurance. Be your best advocate because nobody wants this more then you! Good Luck!

This sounds like my story... I finally got snippy w/ the girl who handles submitting to insurance and asked her just exactly when she was going to start doing her job. Long story short, 3 days later, I was approved.

This sounds like my story... I finally got snippy w/ the girl who handles submitting to insurance and asked her just exactly when she was going to start doing her job. Long story short, 3 days later, I was approved.

It only took my insurance 4 days to approve I called 3 times a day to make sure that they had what they needed. Then called the surgeons office to be sure they sent what was needed to both insurance and me. I would also forward the info to insurance as I kept copies of all my tests, labs, doctors notes, etc

Thanks guys for the encouragement! I hate getting snippy because when I do, I can be very ugly! I called the patient advocate and left a message. Maybe she'll call back...

It only took my insurance 4 days to approve I called 3 times a day to make sure that they had what they needed. Then called the surgeons office to be sure they sent what was needed to both insurance and me. I would also forward the info to insurance as I kept copies of all my tests' date=' labs, doctors notes, etc[/quote']

Wow! That was really thorough! I never thought about asking to get copies of stuff too. I didn't think I'd have to follow up like this behind these people! They seemed so professional! I think they are just overwhelmed with too many patients because their office includes several cities. But, don't have me looking crazy calling the insurer and you haven't even submitted the paperwork to them! Geez!

Keep on them. I hit a spell like that with my surgeon's office, waiting on a revision approval. My band came out in September and come the week after Thanksgiving they still hadn't even submitted my revision papers to insurance. My phone calls to the coordinator were not being returned, nor were my phone calls to her supervisor, and his supervisor. I was really starting to take it personally. So I just drove to the office and sit int he waiting room until she had time to help me. I called her every am and every pm after that, and once submitted I called insurance at least 1x per day to make damn sure the fax had actually been sent.

I really have not appreciated the way my surgeon's office has responded to me. I've called as everyone has suggested and they simply don't answer the phone! WTH? I feel like such a whiner! OMG! The insurance company has been more responsive! I have called them and left a message and they have promptly returned my call. I've beginning to think I chose the wrong local surgeons!

Thanks guys for the encouragement! I hate getting snippy because when I do' date=' I can be very ugly! I called the patient advocate and left a message. Maybe she'll call back...[/quote']

I'm in the same boat.. Waiting for the patient advocate to get back to me hopefully tomorrow.. Gd luck

Sent from my SPH-D710 using VST

Well, the patient advocate emailed me and said that the information has been forwarded to the insurance company. I called the insurer and they indicated that they have received the documents. Now, we wait again... They said to call back Tuesday. Let's just pray and be hopeful. Thanks for the good advice!

Are you really going to wait until Tuesday to call them? I wouldn't, I'd call back on friday. There's no harm and no foul to calling earlier! Let us know what happens.

Good point! I am now on a 'first name' basis with the intake person at the insurance company. She's been the only person that has consistently called me back through this process. She said I should know something by Tuesday. So, I'll give until then, but after that all bets are off!