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Insurance requirements for Anthem BCBS



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Hello all! I'm new to this forum and just started my journey. I had my consultation spot on 7-5, my Upper Gindine today as well as my psych evaluation and first nutrition appointment ( I have to have 6 consecutive months). I'm very nervous because I want to get it don this year because I've met my deductible and out of pocket maximum so my surgery will be 100% covered! I'm scared because my last nutrition appointment will be 12/13 which is cutting it close!!! Anyone experienced these? Can you give me words of encouragement??? Thank you in advance!!!!

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100% is awesome. The only thought that came to my mind is given the fact that it's cutting close to the end of the year, is to stay on top of your surgeon's office/team. Keep yourself in the loop, always ask questions. Ask them how they manage patient records (are they staying on top of them daily, etc). I did. My team sent them off and not even 24 hours later, I was approved. Also, call your insurance company and ask what their policy is for the approval process. Maybe they'll make note in the system and see that you're serious??? I called mine and did this as well. Make sure you make all appts, don't reschedule any (they have to be consecutive--as with most insurances). Blessings on your journey hon!!! It'll be here before you know it. :)

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If you just started and you need it by dec 31 you might not make it. I think I'm like $800 short of my max out of pocket and medi-cal should take care of the rest.

Make sure you ask your scheduler to make a tentative surgery appt before the end of the year. Mine make a 7/31 appt like 2 months in advance because I was already meeting all but 1 requirement.


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You should still be okay, my approval was done in less than 24 hours and my surgery was scheduled two weeks after. Keep in mind, when we review PA's (I'm w/ BCBS) towards the end of the year, our TAT (turn around time) is a bit longer than usual. Ask the MD to send it in as a STAT, due to the end of the ear urgency. Depending on your review team, if it is not life threatening, it may be downgraded to a standard. Make sure your medical team submits everything, so it does not pend for additional information, that can extend the time significantly.

Crossing my fingers for you, congrats!

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Thank you Crystal I appreciate your comment. I'll make sure they stay on top of it .....even if I have to have surgery on New Year's Eve!

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I too have Anthem and have meet my deductible this year. I haven't started the six month thing yet. I am due to start that on 8/6 just incase but I had a neurology apt scheduled on July 24th for over a month and discovered I had Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension which is causing vision loss and my neurologist doesn't want me to wait that long to get the surgery. She is going to try to get my insurance to waive the 6 month diet which I hope they do. I have heard good things about BCBS though and them approving fast. SO just stay on top of it and it should work out.

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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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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