Will anyone with federal BCBS share their timeline with me? I just began my journey with Lapband. I cannot have a consultation until the doctor's office verify and receive a referral number. I just want to know how long it maybe until surgery(if it's approved). Thanks!

From my initial phone call to my surgeon it was almost exactly a month to surgery date. My paper work was submitted on a Thursday and I had been approved by Monday or Tuesday. BCBS Federal paid all of my bills as promised. Our insurance rocks!!!

Hi Poospie

I got a pm from you but i could not answer because you are set to not recieve emails, so I will answer your question here. I too 204bed for 5 years until this past February when I realized it was a huge part of the reason I was getting so fat, so back to carrying the mail i went and I love it! Anyway about your quesion BCBS fed will cover your psychologist appointmnet it took me about two weeks after the dr. submitted my paperwork to get my prior approval from them for my surgery. They have been pretty decent other than giving me a hard time about the prior approval in writing but I pitched enough of a fit that i got it. My surgery is scheduled for 11/16 and i have already lost 20 ponunds on my pre op diet and i am so excited. Good luck and let me know if I can help with any more questions. I feel like an old pro with insurance now LOL!

<p>Thanks for all of your help. Maybe that's why I'm gaining weight also. Anyway, good luck to you on your surgery and I'm wishing you a speedy recovery.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Poopsie

Good luck to you as well. Thank you for your well wishes. I hope all goes good for you. Where are you having surgery? What surgeon? Don't stress too much about getting approval it seems to go pretty well, I have started a chain reaction in our office there are 5 of us that are getting a lapband before the end of the year.

I chose Dr. Angstadt in Savannah at Memorial Health. I'm sure when it starts going, it will be okay. I'm just anxious and excited. Although it probably no likely, I want to be banded this year. No one in my office know except my PM. His wife was banded almost 2 weeks ago. I'll keep it a secret for a while - at least until I'm down 50 or 60 lbs. As always, thanks for your help and support.

Poopsie

Good luck with your surgery. I chose to tell everybody I could find about my surgery. Do you work in Savannah, the reason I ask is I was there last year for two weeks for a minor route inspection and adjustment. They call it a 271g. I miss doing route inspections but don't miss the other stresses. Take care.

Sorry that I'm so late responding. I work in SC. I know a few people that probably did inspections with you. I was certified to do route inspections this summer by Bobby Johnson. I also see that Pam sent out a list of all the inspections for 2008. Maybe we'll be on a team together. I'll be waiting on you to share your banding experience.

Poopsie,

Once I decided, I went to the consultation, received the insurance codes and and called BCBS Federal to see if they would cover it. The person on the phone said that it would be covered, $100 copay to surgeon, and $100 copay to the hospital. My surgeon required psych eval, dietitian visit, chest exray, blood work and physical from my primary care physician, and some additional paperwork. I made the decision 09/15/07, was approved the next week, my surgeon had a cancellation and could schedule me in October, but I wanted November 9th. It happened really fast...

Hope this helps you...

Poopsie

How are you progressing? I am doing great this surgery is definately the best decision i ever made. When I read you were in SC i had to laugh, the most fun i had on a route inspection was in Aiken Sc. We had a blast!!!

Can I jump in here with a question? I too have federal BCBS and *had* a surgery date (12/7). Everything was approved and then I got a letter in the mail saying that there would be a surgical assistant who is not a preferred provider and that would cost $1000, to be paid prior to surgery. My husband suggested finding a different surgeon that used all preferred providers. I was expecting to pay $200 and planned for that, not $1200.

(Oh - on the phone when I called - tearfully - to postpone my surgery they told me that I would likely receive about $900 of that $1000 back ... um ... if that's the case, why not just charge me $100?)

Is this typical? I like my surgeon, but at this point, I think I'd prefer to look around for another one. I already have the insurance approval, have already seen the psychologist and the nutritionist. Would it really just be preferable to scrounge up the $1000?

I have never heard of this happening and their telling you before hand. At least they did tell you in advance.

Not sure about pulling out now to find a new surgeon. I would be very tempted to find a new one, but what guarantee is there that this couldn't happen again? I assume you asked your surgeon if they could use a different surgical assistant.

If it were me, I would try to find a new, reputable surgeon ASAP who could guarantee me this would not happen again.

Good Luck!

if you change Dr. you will also have to resubmitt paperwork to insurance and start that process all over again

Hi Jeannie,

I am glad your surgery was a success. I was wondering how things went with it. Honestly,I don't know where I am towards steps left to surgery. I still have to see a pulmonary dr, have an echocardiogram, and then get clearance from my PCP. I was really hoping to be banded this year or the 1st week of Jan. next year but who knows how long it'll take.

HI Poopsie

My surgery went great. It has been one week today, I am a little sore but no real pain to speak of. I hop eyou get all your testing done so that you can progress on with your band, believe me it seems so worth it now that i have it done. I actually feel like i have a shot at losing the weight and keeping it off this time. take care and keep me posted how you are doing.

Guys

I am having a time with the staff in my Dr. office. They keep telling me that federal BCBS has changed its requirement and now require patients to wait six months after consultation, eval, labs and all the other before you are able to have surgery. I want to know if anyone else is having that problem. I had hoped to have my surgery before the year was out, but now I am getting different answers from the Dr. office and federal BCBS and sort of changing my mind about the surgery. If anyone else is having the same problem, please let me know.

Georgia Peach