Need to vent!!!!

terry · September 2, 2004

Hi everyone,

Today I was informed after waiting a week to hear from my insurance company that they did not RECIEVE anything. My doctor's office said they would re-fax everything this afternoon. The doctor's called and they said they recieved and for us to call them in 5 working days, which would be next Friday.

The only problem is that I'm under the gun and need to have the surgery done by the end of the month, due to insurance reason.

I guess what pissed my off was that I feel I wasted a week on waiting to hear from the insurance company, only to find out they (claimed) they did not have it. I'm sure that's typical of the insurance game!!!!!!!

Anyways, the waiting game begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for listening!!!

Terry

hagerteresa · September 3, 2004

Sorry Terry. I hope things get cleared up and it all gets taken care of. Best wishes to you, Teresa

terry · September 3, 2004

Teresa,

Thanks for your well wishes. I know it's just a waiting game, buy it's still hard to do!!!!!

Terry

sassaay · September 3, 2004

Hi Terry,

This is a bummer. Not knowing the details of why you must rush for surgery by the end of the month, is there anyway you can call the insurance back, confirm they received the re-faxed information and then asked them to expedite the request? Maybe your doctor would be willing to help by calling and asking for a rush on the decision.

I have Cigna and although they appeared to have little concern for me and my requests when ever I called, my doctor had a lot of success in one -- convincing them to expedite their decision and two -- to change their mind and cover my lapband surgery when they initially declined my coverage.

Good luck and remember... you can get more flies with honey than you can with vinegar:D

terry · September 3, 2004

Hi Anne,

The reason I need to rush the surgery is that I'm changing insurance company on Sept. 30. I've already meet all my deductables for Cigna, even my out of pocket, which means the surgery would be covered at 100% I'm a little afraid to call them to have them put a rush on this for that fact they might figure out what's going on. We are changing to BC/BS of GA, and from what I understand covers all of this. But the thought of going thru all of this again, just drives me crazy.

How long after Cigna recieved your information did it take them to responed and then to approve you?? They told my doctor's office to call them next Friday the 10th. I'm afraid that's not going to be enough time even if they do approve me. Although my doctor office said we would be able to get the pre-op stuff taken care of.

The stress begins!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!

Terry

leatha_g · September 3, 2004

Originally posted by terry
Hi Anne,

The reason I need to rush the surgery is that I'm changing insurance company on Sept. 30. I've already meet all my deductables for Cigna, even my out of pocket, which means the surgery would be covered at 100% I'm a little afraid to call them to have them put a rush on this for that fact they might figure out what's going on. We are changing to BC/BS of GA, and from what I understand covers all of this. But the thought of going thru all of this again, just drives me crazy.

How long after Cigna recieved your information did it take them to responed and then to approve you?? They told my doctor's office to call them next Friday the 10th. I'm afraid that's not going to be enough time even if they do approve me. Although my doctor office said we would be able to get the pre-op stuff taken care of.

The stress begins!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!

Terry

Cigna PPO approved me in less than a week after.

I'm sure you've thought this through, but it concerns me that you'll be changing insurances AFTER your banding. Any new insurance may surely refuse to pay for any subsequent expenses since they did not pay for the surgery.

leatha_g · September 3, 2004

Originally posted by terry
Hi Anne,

The reason I need to rush the surgery is that I'm changing insurance company on Sept. 30. I've already meet all my deductables for Cigna, even my out of pocket, which means the surgery would be covered at 100% I'm a little afraid to call them to have them put a rush on this for that fact they might figure out what's going on. We are changing to BC/BS of GA, and from what I understand covers all of this. But the thought of going thru all of this again, just drives me crazy.

How long after Cigna recieved your information did it take them to responed and then to approve you?? They told my doctor's office to call them next Friday the 10th. I'm afraid that's not going to be enough time even if they do approve me. Although my doctor office said we would be able to get the pre-op stuff taken care of.

The stress begins!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!

Terry

Cigna PPO approved me in less than a week after.

I'm sure you've thought this through, but it concerns me that you'll be changing insurances AFTER your banding. Any new insurance may surely refuse to pay for any subsequent expenses since they did not pay for the surgery.

leatha_g · September 3, 2004

Originally posted by terry
Hi Anne,

The reason I need to rush the surgery is that I'm changing insurance company on Sept. 30. I've already meet all my deductables for Cigna, even my out of pocket, which means the surgery would be covered at 100% I'm a little afraid to call them to have them put a rush on this for that fact they might figure out what's going on. We are changing to BC/BS of GA, and from what I understand covers all of this. But the thought of going thru all of this again, just drives me crazy.

How long after Cigna recieved your information did it take them to responed and then to approve you?? They told my doctor's office to call them next Friday the 10th. I'm afraid that's not going to be enough time even if they do approve me. Although my doctor office said we would be able to get the pre-op stuff taken care of.

The stress begins!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!

Terry

Cigna PPO approved me in less than a week after.

I'm sure you've thought this through, but it concerns me that you'll be changing insurances AFTER your banding. Any new insurance may surely refuse to pay for any subsequent expenses since they did not pay for the surgery.

leatha_g · September 3, 2004

Originally posted by terry
Hi Anne,

The reason I need to rush the surgery is that I'm changing insurance company on Sept. 30. I've already meet all my deductables for Cigna, even my out of pocket, which means the surgery would be covered at 100% I'm a little afraid to call them to have them put a rush on this for that fact they might figure out what's going on. We are changing to BC/BS of GA, and from what I understand covers all of this. But the thought of going thru all of this again, just drives me crazy.

How long after Cigna recieved your information did it take them to responed and then to approve you?? They told my doctor's office to call them next Friday the 10th. I'm afraid that's not going to be enough time even if they do approve me. Although my doctor office said we would be able to get the pre-op stuff taken care of.

The stress begins!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!

Terry

Cigna PPO approved me in less than a week after.

I'm sure you've thought this through, but it concerns me that you'll be changing insurances AFTER your banding. Any new insurance may surely refuse to pay for any subsequent expenses since they did not pay for the surgery.

Good luck!

sassaay · September 3, 2004

Hi Terry,

I have Cigna HMO and my provider actually approved me without submitting anything to Cigna. It wasn't until I went for my pre-op registration at the hospital on the Thursday before my Tuesday scheduled surgery that I got a call that Friday telling me Cigna denied the surgery. My provider did not know that some things like Bariatric surgery had to be pre-approved. My doctor called Cigna that Monday and spoke with the Medical Director and was able to convince them to reverse the denial and pick up the surgery... so this was all in a matter of days. I had my surgery as scheduled that Tuesday.

When my original band had a week, I think again it was about a week before I was approved again.

I hope it works out for you and you may want to take Leatha's advise and make sure that if you get banded before you change insurance that you new company will cover you if there are any problems.

Take Care,