My doctor will be submitting my case to my insurance on Friday 12/20/2013 right before the holidays. I am scheduled for Surgery on 01/14/2014 pending verification and approval through the insurance. My question is for those who have had blue cross blue shield basic and applied for approval during the holidays, how long did it take to get a response from the time you submitted your documents until you were approved or denied. Thanks for the feedback.

I was federal BC/BS and got the approval within 2 weeks...

I did not submit during the holidays, but have Blue Shield/Blue Cross Federal and received approval in one day.

I also have BCBS Federal but was submitted around the Thanksgiving holiday and was approved within a week. I would think that it shouldnt slow down any approval progress even though its a holiday. If anything they might be closed for one day (Christmas) but even then I dont know how they can. I mean people get sick every single day so someone has to be there to help them. My positve thinking says youll be fine

My papers were submitted on 11/21. I called BCBS on the 23rd and was told I had approval. I called the doctor's office that next Monday (before Thanksgiving) and was told that the certification specialist was on vacation all week, and she would be the one to call me to tell me the approval was in.

I faxed a copy of a letter I got from BCBS approving up to 5 days for my hospital stay at Loyola. With that info, the surgeon's nurse went ahead and confirmed my date (next Monday 12/23 yeah!).

It was still midweek after Thanksgiving and I had not heard from the cert. specialist....so I called. She confirmed that I was approved, but had no explanation for her delay. This is not the first time I have heard of BCBS Federal doing their part, and then you get the delay from a paperwork pusher at the doctor's office. Be proactive.

Just a note...BCBS Federal is the best paying insurance I have ever had...ever...and I am retired.

So my doctors office said they are waiting until after Christmas to submit the info to the insurance. They said they will probably submit on or around 12/27/2013, I will let everyone know how long it took to get a response from the insurance. I am very nervous and excited. Thank you all for your responses.