About how long does it take from the time your paperwork is submitted to insurance until you received an answer? I have BCBS IL and my paperwork was submitted by my PCP on Monday. I called the doctor today and the girl in charge of referrals was sort of rude and said they still hadn't heard anything and she would call me once they did (I felt like I was bugging her by calling!) I'm just anxious and want to know ASAP that I'm approved so I can set up my first appt.

The first appt. takes like half a day to complete because you meet with the surgeon, bariatric doctor, psychologist, nutritionist, etc. all that first day then they send you to complete your clearances. The surgeon's office said they can make a first appt. for sometime next week or the week after, but the nutritionist doesn't have anything available until beginning of February! I just want to get this part of the process going already so I can get sleeved! Hopefully I can get sleeved sometime in March. I'm just anxious!!

Depends. No one can give a concrete answer. Some people are approved same day. I am on month five of waiting. But you can call your insurance yourself and ask. No need to wait for doctors office. :-)

I guess my ins works differently. My Dr sent the refferal to the bariateic surgeon. Then I was able to start my 6 mo required appts and do all of the pre op requirements. Once that was done the bariatric center sent it to my ins for approval for surgery. That took one week. Two weeks later I had my surgery. Good luck to you!

Mine works like susanfaye's also

I'm waiting on insurance approval now too. After going through the 6mos of pre-op appts I met with my surgeon yesterday. He and his staff told me that it could take 4-6 weeks before surgery. Unfortunately my employer changed our insurance starting Jan 01.... that could throw a wrench in and slow down the approval. Ugh.. I just want to get this over with and move on.

I have bcbsil as well it looks like I don't have the required six months but my office is pretty serious it looks like about me hitting done "mind" nutritional goals and showing I can eat healthy.

I'm really hoping for march as well. Since that's spring break.

I got insurance approval after 1 day... can you believe that??? Anyhoo... surgery is 2/12 @ 10:15.... eek!