I got approved about a month ago but I figured I would let people know in case anyone else wonders about things with this insurance.

I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. It took about a month before I was approved. They claimed they were very behind for some reason so it took longer than normal. I only had to show some kind of proof that I attempted other weight loss methods and failed. In my case this included a life long history of up and down diets and I tried phentermine for a couple of months.

They are also going to cover the assisting surgeon and the Lovenox injections after. They approved me for same-day outpatient (unless of course there's a complication).

Hope this helps someone at some point! Surgery date is October 15, 2007!

I was just approved for surgery BC/BS PPO Connecticut. It was submitted on 1/31 and approved on 2/7 Not bad timing.

I have my preop appt on Thursday. Hoping to be a March bandster!!!

sharon:)

I would have your physician (surgeon) write the appeal. It isn't something that should come from you. The physician's office should be expert on appealing such decisions.

sharon:)

RN/MSN

I was just approved for surgery BC/BS PPO Connecticut. It was submitted on 1/31 and approved on 2/7 Not bad timing.

I have my preop appt on Thursday. Hoping to be a March bandster!!!

sharon:)

That is really great to hear. I called today and they told me there was a 2-3 week backlog of things and that would be the earliest the nurse would even look at it. I was very disappointed and I hope that the info isn't correct. I'm in Ohio, though -- I'm assuming this makes a difference... *sigh*

B

:mad::party:Congratulations Sharon!!!!!!!

:thumbup:I have Anthem BC/BS.

FTR, they lost my paperwork. I called for 2.5 weeks, daily, to see if they had it and they finally found it yesterday. And approved me in the same day. I do not have to have the 6 month monitored diet. YAY!

This has all gone very quickly, really. Psych eval sometime late Jan, meet with doctor and staff for 4+ hours on 2/8 -- request for predetermination submitted on 2/8. Approval received (hunted down like the wild beast it is) yesterday and today, a surgery date was given for 3/12.

I recommend proactively calling and keeping track of every detail.

I had an exclusion on my Anthem plan.

I'm back with them - I wonder if they will cover fills? They paid for my last office visit minus the copay.

I went for my consultation on 2/14/08 and Anthem granted approval by 2/!8/08. I got official notice in the mail of the approval on 2?26/08. Maybe Anthem is getting better with their review. Or maybe the people at VCU Medical Center just know how to submit - in any case, I'm thrilled that everything is happening so quickly. My banding is scheduled for 4/21/08 - it was originally scheduled for 4/3/08 but I wanted a surgery date earlier in the week.

I think that if they dont' lose the paperwork and the predetermination request is in front of them, they just go through a check list to see if you qualify and then push it through. Seriously, it only took hours once my paperwork (and I knew I met the qualifications -- I was only worried about having to do the medically supervised 6 month diet) was 'in-hand'.

I'm really impressed. I'm starting to think Anthem is one of the better insurance companies out there for this. I had Medical Mutual before and I know they were harder to get through.

B

I called this morning to see if the paperwork had been sent in, the office said it was sent over yesterday. I settled in for the week wait, they called back this afternoon and it was approved. My heart is beating a million beats per minute I'm so in shock! They will call on Thursday to schedule the surgery

I called this morning to see if the paperwork had been sent in, the office said it was sent over yesterday. I settled in for the week wait, they called back this afternoon and it was approved. My heart is beating a million beats per minute I'm so in shock! They will call on Thursday to schedule the surgery

Yay! Congratulations! That is wonderful news. :biggrin2:

I called this morning to see if the paperwork had been sent in, the office said it was sent over yesterday. I settled in for the week wait, they called back this afternoon and it was approved. My heart is beating a million beats per minute I'm so in shock! They will call on Thursday to schedule the surgery

YAY!!!! Congrats!! I bet you get a quick surgery date! Mine is approaching rapidly and I'm terrified I won't get everything done that I need to at this rate. (We're refinishing the downstairs and I want it done before I go in for surgery)

B

Congratulations!!!!

How is everyone doing? I am scheduled for Wednesday...scare,nervous and excited all at the same time. This pre op diet is a nightmare....been cheating with salads....but that's it...can't wait for it to be over!!!

sharon:)

Good luck with surgery! I'm sure you will love being banded! Just at least make sure to go to full liquids when they tell you to so your stomach will be relaxed and ready for surgery. Good luck and keep us updated!

Ugh! The following is a vent!

I hate hate hate hate hate the girl that schedules surgeries. She has to be one of the rudest secretaries I've met. I called 5 times on Thursday with no call back, several more times on Friday and she finally calls me at 4:55PM. She then proceeds to try to convince me that we talked about this the day before, and I have no idea why she is arguing with me about not receiving the authorization from my insurance company. All I could tell her is the authorization person called said it was approve and she would be calling me Thursday to schedule. I am not able to explain another persons actions or why that person did not give her the paperwork. But the thing that drives me nuts is that she will not tell me if there are any surgery dates open in March. I don't need the exact dates a simple yes or now would suffice. I've changed jobs and not 100% sure the new insurance would cover the surgery. So all I want to know is if there is a possibility there is a date. If there is not a date then I need to get going on Cobra. But nope she would not budge. Ugh!