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Is it OK to call your insurance company and...



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It's okt o call them and them to tell you a joke, if that's what you want. They may not oblige, but they are there to serve you.

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Yes, I called every week and two different times ended up sending all my paperwork all over again because it was "missplaced". You'd be amazed at how quickly they get sick of your call. Also, take names so when you call again you can say you talked to ____ (fill in blank) on _____ date.

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Hello,

My insurance co, Harvard Pilgrim/Ma, were nasty when I called to inquiry about my chances with a low BMI and several co mobidities. I just wanted to know if it was worth going through everything if the policy was no. I can't self pay but why get my hopes up. So if they say no I will fight them. Lucky those who have a friendly ins co.

goldthimble

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Hello,

I'm picking up Harvard Pilgrim in MA starting in July 1. I've called several clinics in the area and they all say that HP is the best next to Blue Cross to gain an approval. I have a close friend that had no problem at all getting approval through HP but had BMI in mid 40s.

But I have had the same experience with them being rude. But I called back to ask the same questions and finally got ahold of someone teriffic. My suggestion is to call back until you find a rep that is more helpful.

Good luck and please keep me posted on what you find out.

gingersnap

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Any time you call your insurance for any reason---take detailed notes. Note the time, how long you wait on hold, who you talk to---both by name and employee number if applicable, and what they said in regards to what you ask. If EVER one is rude to you as in goldthimble's case---demand to speak to a supervisor and keep demanding it until you get treated properly. Take detailed notes---do not exagerate the situation when you speak to the supervisor---most calls are recorded, and can be pulled up. I have complained, and also commended different people who have assisted me in the last year with multiple insurance issues. I am always pleasant, until given reason not to be!!!

But yes, you can call them anytime, you pay for your insurance....so in essence they work for you!

Good Luck in your insurance quest!

Kat

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Thank you gingersnap & Kat

I am going to call them back. I actually had an email from the supervisor and kept it. He was the one who was nasty. I was as pleasant as could be with the reps. but they kept saying they had to get info elsewhere and would get back to me. Now that I have a few appts under my belt I feel like I could calll them back and nicely try again. I have the patients of a saint till pushed then you better get out of my way.

Thanks for all your input and good luck to you both.

goldthimble

PS gingersnap----I love the name. We had a golden retriever and that was her name, she was our third child. I use golden ginger as a user name on occasion. That's what the gold in my user name is for. thimble because I am a quilter. Snapper was my Dad's nickname and was all he was known by all his life. ergo ginger snap

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Well I finally got a chance to call them...and apparently the lady said that there was nothing on file for me...nothing was scanned in. I'm SOOOO furious right now, I can barely type! I'm not sure what to do now...I've been trying to get a hold of the chick in charge of the insurance at the surgeon's office...but she's not returned my call! FIGURES!!!!!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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