I called the insurance company last week and was told that my surgery was approved for January 16th. I waited a few days to hear from the surgeons office but didn't so I e-mailed them and they said they haven't received the paperwork back from the insurance company. How long should it take. We're talking a week n a half now. I got my hopes up and was extreamly excited but since nothing has come back I'm beginning to worry that maybe they gave me someone else's good news.

For pete's sake, don't these people have fax machines??? There's no reason a copy of the authorization can't be faxed to the surgeon in 5 minutes. Call the insurance company and the doctor's office and get them moving! Sheesh.

My journey began on January 1st. I'm my PCP's first WLS person... I have made all the appointments except for the cardiologist and got the reports and delivered them to my PCP along with a copy to the surgeon my self. It's been a very frustrating year to say the least. My PCP's assistant has been nothing but a person to put things on the back burner. I asked her for a copy if my dietitians report and a couple weeks later I go in and she tells me it can't be used to submit to the insurance. Then tells me the hospital doesn't have the record... Really??? I had gone to the medical record department the day before and obtained the record myself. And the insurance apparently accepted it if they approved me. She told me she had faxed my monthly notes twice but the surgeon never received them. I got her to begrudgingly make me copies and I FedEx them overnight. It's like she's tried to sabotage me every step of the way all the while with a smile on her face. If I didn't live in such a rural community and I had a better selection of doctors I'd have changed doctors but I've made it this far on my own and this last blip of getting the authorization sent to the surgeon is just, hopefully, the last thing... If this had been handled properly I would have had my surgery in July. Here I still wait because if incompetence. After I have my surgery I'm going to make waves for this little gallie. I don't need any more obstacles or I'd have already done it...

Ok that's my rant for the day. Thanks for listening...:-)

Tkauhi You know this seems to be a common practice, I had to request my referral 3 times then today I just went to the doctor and sat their until I had it in my hand, they sent my referral to the wrong doctor and hospital, dont give up , be presistent, I still have to meet with my surgeon and they will be submitting everything after 1/4/13. So I feel your pain but we will prevai.

Cupcake, after talking to the insurance company on the 19th I waited and waited so I began calling the ins co back every couple days. Finally someone there told me there had been a miscommunication. My request has been sent for review, they tell me to call back every couple days, last conversation I had with the ins co was that if I don't hear from them in a letter in a few days, call the surgeons office. I discovered that I can go online to find out about my request so now I check it a few times each day... Lol anyway, it's just been 32 days since it was submitted and the surgeon said they've had some take up to 45 days so I just wait... That's the part that's making me anxious, I think if they were going to approve my surgery they would have done it already but maybe they're just back logged. Either way it's out of my hands so I anxiously wait...

Called the surgeons office yesterday and they still haven't heard anything. 35 days and counting. I'm afraid since it's taking so long I'm going to be denied. The insurance company has basically told me 'don't call us, we 'll mail you a letter'...

There is always a huge backlog at the end of the year. My doctor's office is absolutely swamped right now, both with pending cases and new people wanting to get into the program. Hard to do, but be patient. Wishing you all the best!