I was told last week that all of my paperwork had been submitted to insurance. Yesterday, I called Aetna to follow up, and learned, much to my chagrin, that nothing had been submitted! I called the surgeon's office and was told they needed a few more days - despite the fact that they have everything they need (or so I was told). While I have complete confidence in the "Center of Excellence" surgeon I've selected, his office staff certainly leaves much to be desired. They've been the biggest pain in the rear to work with and I've had to beg for information along the way. But how on earth can I even complain when I'm at their mercy???? So frustrating!!! Just needed to vent...

Ugh I would be frustrated too. It is wrong to tell you you have been submitted and not have it done. I completed my last step early last week. I am hoping to get approval soon so I can go thru my pre op stuff. It is so stressful waiting. Hopefully it will be done soon.

Ugh I would be frustrated too. It is wrong to tell you you have been submitted and not have it done. I completed my last step early last week. I am hoping to get approval soon so I can go thru my pre op stuff. It is so stressful waiting. Hopefully it will be done soon.

I've already gone through all of the pre-op stuff! I'm now waiting to see if I'll be approved for surgery. Was hoping to do it mid-September!

Ahhh, I remember that feeling well. I would say the most stressful time for me was the time between giving the coordinator my final requirement until the day I received my approval. It was never fast enough, they never cared as much as I did (it seemed) and it took forever to submit (according to me). Then I tried to put myself in their shoes. All the different, ever changing insurance requirements, all the different patients and all the tests/results/recommendations that come with each... In retrospect, I'm so happy I only had to submit once, some folks get denied because of a rush to get approval and documents are missing or incomplete. We are at their mercy, all we can do is handle it the best we can and follow-up when we feel it necessary. Not trying to deminish your frustration in the least, just know that we know your pain and wish you a speedy process. Good luck!!

This is why constructive, factual reporting of when a doctor or his staff has done something noteworthy. either good or bad. I would wait to see how long it takes them to finally take care of things. Keep a notebook of every call, who told you what, etc. I think afterwards if you would post something like "review of dr. soandso" and tag his name, city, center of excellence, etc. it could be beneficial to others trying to make decisions.

ALSO - email them- the staff and doctor if you have both emails, and tell them to include you in all correspondence with the insurance, and provide fax reciepts, etc.

I hope it works out for you!

I was told last week that all of my paperwork had been submitted to insurance. Yesterday' date=' I called Aetna to follow up, and learned, much to my chagrin, that nothing had been submitted! I called the surgeon's office and was told they needed a few more days - despite the fact that they have everything they need (or so I was told). While I have complete confidence in the "Center of Excellence" surgeon I've selected, his office staff certainly leaves much to be desired. They've been the biggest pain in the rear to work with and I've had to beg for information along the way. But how on earth can I even complain when I'm at their mercy???? So frustrating!!! Just needed to vent...[/quote']

I'm also working with a "Center of Excellence" in orange county, ca and it's been a pain. I feel for you.

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I had zero issues with my center of excellence in Orange County ca. I was at chapman medical center... I know the fountain valley office does things a bit different. The program manager at chapman kept me in the loop told me the day it was submitted for approval then denied because my insurance wanted one more nutrition appt. then the re submittal she was excellent! Sorry you guys are having trouble.

I had zero issues with my center of excellence in Orange County ca. I was at chapman medical center... I know the fountain valley office does things a bit different. The program manager at chapman kept me in the loop told me the day it was submitted for approval then denied because my insurance wanted one more nutrition appt. then the re submittal she was excellent! Sorry you guys are having trouble.

Dear Italian Girl,

I'm happy to hear your center of excellence treated you with excellence

I wonder if it's too late for me to change from St. Joseph's to Chapman medical center. Who was your surgeon at Chapman?

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Dear Italian Girl' date='

I'm happy to hear your center of excellence treated you with excellence <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I wonder if it's too late for me to change from St. Joseph's to Chapman medical center. Who was your surgeon at Chapman?

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Dr Kelly Francis she is amazing! She is out of two offices one in fountain valley and the other in orange.

Dr Kelly Francis she is amazing! She is out of two offices one in fountain valley and the other in orange.

Thank you Italian girl. I will give her office a call.

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I am at my wit's end. It has now been two weeks since my last appointment and my file still has not been submitted to insurance - despite the fact I completed all of my pre-op work in a timely manner (and was told it was submitted last week). And I don't want the excuse that they're busy. I'm busy too. I have to respond to reporters, execs and individuals at our corporate office all day long. It's my job! Without patients, this inadequate office staff would have no JOB! I'm *this* close to putting in a request for all of my medical records and switching doctors.

I am sorry this is still not resolved. Hopefully it is resolved ASAP.

I am at my wit's end. It has now been two weeks since my last appointment and my file still has not been submitted to insurance - despite the fact I completed all of my pre-op work in a timely manner (and was told it was submitted last week). And I don't want the excuse that they're busy. I'm busy too. I have to respond to reporters' date=' execs and individuals at our corporate office all day long. It's my job! Without patients, this inadequate office staff would have no JOB! I'm *this* close to putting in a request for all of my medical records and switching doctors.[/quote']

Wow, that's crazy. It usually takes the insurance a couple weeks to approve it once its done too. Paperwork submittal is not only part of their jobs it's the approvals that pay their salaries in the end. I'm really sorry you are having such trouble.

I am at my wit's end. It has now been two weeks since my last appointment and my file still has not been submitted to insurance - despite the fact I completed all of my pre-op work in a timely manner (and was told it was submitted last week). And I don't want the excuse that they're busy. I'm busy too. I have to respond to reporters' date=' execs and individuals at our corporate office all day long. It's my job! Without patients, this inadequate office staff would have no JOB! I'm *this* close to putting in a request for all of my medical records and switching doctors.[/quote']

Hi laffypatty,

Any update from your insurance or surgeon's office?

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Approved! Surgery scheduled for 9/16!

Approved! Surgery scheduled for 9/16!

That's definitely great news, congratulations!

Good luck . . Please keep us posted.

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