Issues with Patient Advocate at Bariatric Center

[Sofficial 162]

I've noticed that mostly every one who had to do a 3-6 month supervised diet, their info was sent to the insurance co a couple days later. Well not me, I still have not met my surgeon, I'm scheduled to have an consult with him on 1/17 and that's also the date of my last supervised diet visit. I knew it was strange when I didn't consult with him in Dec so I called my advocate and she told me that they prefer for me to not consult with him until AFTER my insurance was approved. The other day I called her to ask a simple question about my insurance and from that we went in to discussing my up coming apps, then she said you will have your surgeon consult on 1/17 and when your done with that he will scheduled your endoscopy because that have to be done before we can submit your info to the insurance co. Wait WHAT!?!? So you're telling me that I have to wait even longer to submit my info to the insurance co, when all of this could have been done last month when I called you.

So all of this is going to push me at least two weeks back

Edited January 11, 2014 by SweetSophia

[Cupcake 801]

Sweat Sophia when you say submit to the insurance are you reference to 6 month weight management sheet to get the approvel from the insurance company approving you to even meet with the surgeon? Because I know in my case thats what had to happen, my entire 6 month weight management had to be completed prior to my insurance company approving me to meet with the surgeon , just like when I had my psy eval? And I will not be meeting with the surgeon for the first time until the beginning of March.

Edited January 12, 2014 by Cupcake

[Sofficial 162]

Oh maybe that's what's going on, but I didn't know that they needed approval just to meet with the surgeon. But she also told me that I had to meet with the surgeon in order to get the approval from my insurance.

When is your last month for your 6 month weight management?

[Sallyawbc 46]

I felt the way, the insurance was not approved until after all of the test were complete. I felt it did delay (I'm still waiting) the surgery because you cannot get appointments for weeks, sometimes months. When I made my appt for my ultrasound they gave me an appt 2 months out. Luckily another clinic had an opening in 2 weeks but I had to ask for an alternative site. I know this helps weed out those who really are not dedicated to having the surgery but you really have to be your own advocate and be assertive in getting through this process. I have everything done, now I have to call Monday for the final ??Dietitian meeting. I'm not even sure what the appt is for. I still don't have that date. I'm really getting antsy which makes me eat!!!

[Cupcake 801]

SweetSophia mylast 6 month weight management was 1/4/14 and they meaning the team for my program contacted me and said that they have received all of my required 6 month weigh sheets then I recieved a letter from my insurance telling me that I was approved to meet with the surgeon , but do to demand he is not availble until the begining of March but I will get a date then at the meeting

[Sofficial 162]

Yeah I know, I'm getting antsy too. I need to calm down. It's just that I thought I was done with everything with the exception of the final dietitian meeting and surgeon visit, then they hit me with this endoscopy thing out of the blue, but it's cool no matter what I'm still getting closer to starting my new life.

[Cupcake 801]

Sallyawbc I agree with your statements I thought I would be all set for Jan for surgery until I found out the waiting list to meet with the surgeon. But all requirements have been met, now I just have to wait to meet the surgeon then I will be placed on a diet , medication review to see if I can take meds while doing the two week liquid diet.< /p>

[Cupcake 801]

Sweet Sophia LOL I know how you feel trust me I was so upset to learn about the waiting list after I finished my 6 month weight management, but I did ask to be placed on the list if any one cancels their surgeons appointments to meet the surgeon was canceled.

[Sofficial 162]

Cupcake

So you're completely done, just waiting to meet with the surgeon and get your date. Hopefully your surgery date won't be too far from your meeting.

[BrendaGabbart 17]

Yeah I know, I'm getting antsy too. I need to calm down. It's just that I thought I was done with everything with the exception of the final dietitian meeting and surgeon visit, then they hit me with this endoscopy thing out of the blue, but it's cool no matter what I'm still getting closer to starting my new life.

I was luckily enough that I knew who my surgeon was so when they made my appointment they also got me an appointment the same afternoon with the dr who was doing the endoscopy. I was scheduled the very next morning to have the endoscopy and my surgery was the very next Monday. Best of luck to you.

[Cupcake 801]

SweetSophia yes I am completely done with everything, I am just waiting to meet the surgeon and get my date, although there is a two month and i week waiting period. LOL My husband keeps telling me to be patient I have already did 6 months so these two months and 1 week will fly by, I told him I know he is right but I am afraid the surgery date will be a long one to since he waiting list is so long I hope I am wrong.

[Cupcake 801]

BrendaGabbart Lucky butt thanks for the encouragement .

Edited January 12, 2014 by Cupcake

[Sofficial 162]

Yeah I know, I'm getting antsy too. I need to calm down. It's just that I thought I was done with everything with the exception of the final dietitian meeting and surgeon visit, then they hit me with this endoscopy thing out of the blue, but it's cool no matter what I'm still getting closer to starting my new life.

I was luckily enough that I knew who my surgeon was so when they made my appointment they also got me an appointment the same afternoon with the dr who was doing the endoscopy. I was scheduled the very next morning to have the endoscopy and my surgery was the very next Monday. Best of luck to you.

Wow talk about fast!! That's good to know that the endoscopy shouldn't slow me down too much (hopefully). I know my process isn't going to be as fast as yours, I still have to wait on them to submit everything to my insurance, But yeah Cupcake's right talk about encouragement.

[Sallyawbc 46]

I guess my impatience is that I have absolutely no control over what is going on. I am a 5 yr breast cancer survivor and do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. My next walk is in Washington DC May 3 and I need to train walking up to 10 miles a day. It takes about 2-3 months to get conditioned and I'm afraid I won't be strong enough or keep hydrated for the walk. I usually walk 13 miles each day and not the 26 miles the first day. I would love to lose enough weight that I could walk at least 20 miles the first day and 13 the second. I also am not able to do the fundraising after the surgery because of the weight lifting restriction. I make jewelry and have to set up EZ ups, 6 ft tables and have to lift heavy boxes of jewelry in and out of the car. I have to raise $1800 and have raised $800 so far. After the bypass, once I recover I need to have my shoulder operated on soooooooooooooooo I am a little stressed!!!