Hey everyone! I'm just about to the end of my journey with the prerequisites for insurance and the last requirement is my psych eval on March 21st. My insurance is carefirst blue choice and I'm doing this at Johns Hopkins. Any insight to how long it's going to take for insurance approval and from then how long I'm looking to wait for an appointment for surgery?

Thanks so much in advance!!

I'm also going through Johns Hopkins! Who is your surgeon? Once all of my paperwork/clearances were complete the office submitted to my insurance right away. I have a different insurance company, but insurance approval took 1 day. The office contacted me immediately upon receiving approval with a surgery date. Hope that helps!

Hello,

Here's my timeline...

Jan 23- First Consult
Feb 6- Appt. W/Nutritionist &Psych Eval.
Feb 14- Paperwork Submitted to insurance (BCBS TX)
Feb-21 Approved
Feb- 23 Received a surgery date of March 20th
Mar 4-Gallbaldder Ultrasound
Mar 6- EGD
Mar 9-Registration @ hospital and pre-op appt. W/surgeon
Mar 17-19 3 day liver shrinking diet
Mar 20-SURGERY WHHOOO HOO

Even though everyone's insurance and surgeon is different I hope this helps a little bit....
FYI I called my insurance company everyday LOL

I'm also going through Johns Hopkins! Who is your surgeon? Once all of my paperwork/clearances were complete the office submitted to my insurance right away. I have a different insurance company, but insurance approval took 1 day. The office contacted me immediately upon receiving approval with a surgery date. Hope that helps!

Thank you! That's reassuring!!! My surgeon is Dr. Adrales, she seemed very nice. How far out was your surgery date? I'm terrified that I'm going to get rejected.

Hello,

Here's my timeline...

Jan 23- First Consult
Feb 6- Appt. W/Nutritionist &Psych Eval.
Feb 14- Paperwork Submitted to insurance (BCBS TX)
Feb-21 Approved
Feb- 23 Received a surgery date of March 20th
Mar 4-Gallbaldder Ultrasound
Mar 6- EGD
Mar 9-Registration @ hospital and pre-op appt. W/surgeon
Mar 17-19 3 day liver shrinking diet
Mar 20-SURGERY WHHOOO HOO

Even though everyone's insurance and surgeon is different I hope this helps a little bit....
FYI I called my insurance company everyday LOL

Hahahaha I will probably do the same out of sheer terror for rejection. I decided to stop taking one of my medications and have gained 20 lbs since I started the process.

1 minute ago, powelak10 said:

Thank you! That's reassuring!!! My surgeon is Dr. Adrales, she seemed very nice. How far out was your surgery date? I'm terrified that I'm going to get rejected.

It was four weeks out, but that date didn't work for me since I have a work commitment. They offered a date the following week, which still didn't work due to my job. So it was about 7 weeks out, but not because of their schedule - it was all mine! I'm using Dr. Schweitzer. I really liked his bio and in person he was very nice. I met with a surgeon at a different practice originally, which is how I ended up changing practices and going to Hopkins.

I meant to also say don't be nervous. The office coordinator will make sure you have all of the right documentation before submitting. I was nervous too about being approved...looking back, it was such a waste of stress since the approval happened so quickly once I met all the requirements.

I meant to also say don't be nervous. The office coordinator will make sure you have all of the right documentation before submitting. I was nervous too about being approved...looking back, it was such a waste of stress since the approval happened so quickly once I met all the requirements.

I actually met with him 2.5 years ago the first time I thought about doing this, but had to switch to someone with an office at bayview since I moved down to south Baltimore. I'm just worried because I decided to stop taking one of my medications and I've put on about 20lbs since the start. Apparently it had been artificially ramping up my metabolism for about 8 years

Hahahaha I will probably do the same out of sheer terror for rejection. I decided to stop taking one of my medications and have gained 20 lbs since I started the process.

Wow...what is a 3 day liver shrinking diet? I am on 2 week liquid diet...[emoji47]

The liver shrinking diet is done 3 days before and I can have 1 protein shake for breakfast, 1 for lunch a and a protein(chicken, fish, turkey) and vegetables for dinner.

My biggest hangup was the gastroenterologist. It took 6 weeks to get in to see her and then two months for endoscopy appointment. I got my may surgery date because I didn't want to cancel my April cruise.
I met with surgeon in November to start this process. But for endoscopy I probably could have had surgery in February or early March. But in end I'm excited for my vacation and then I turn around and start liquid diet for surgery.