Hi everyone, I am just wondering how long it generally takes from insurance approval to surgery schedule? I have to do that 6 months of dr supervised weight loss thing. I just had visit #5.

I am 'assuming' that after #6 the surgeons office will submit the stuff for approval and that should get the ball rolling, but wondered how it goes.

My docs office is not the most communicative- that kind of bothers me. I am considering looking else where but hate to start over.

I know that I am required to do a few classes but I guess those do not get started until after the insurance approval.

what is everyone elses experience?

My doctor submitted mine on November 3rd and I had an approval on November 11th and having surgery on December 11th it was not bad atleast with BCBS. Should go pretty smoothly, Congrats and Good Luck!

Jamtte

I see you have BCBS. How much did your surgery cost and did you have to come up with money up-front?

I have BCBS and I have to go through the six month weight loss fase also. I just started the process too, so I am at the very beginning. So don't get discouraged.

As you can see, it depends. It was about 1 month TOTAL for me from the seminar to surgery. It could've been sooner but because of my size I had to do a preop diet for 3 weeks to shrink my liver.

This is a question about the fatty liver matter. What was the 3 week diet you were on to shrink it? I am told that a person's weight and size actually have nothing to do with it. I am curious, however, as to the method used to normalize it somewhat? Thanks!

This is to Finallyready@51, but for anyone in a similar situation whether with a doctor, family member, or whomever. One thing I would suggest, if you are concerned about the communication lines with your doctor, YOU need to address it with them and correct it. It will not get better on its own. This is an important aspect of your health and it really necessitates your taking charge. You will feel better, more confident, in control and responsible. Control is a huge part of this entire process.

Edited November 26, 200817 yr by Jazzy4Health
addition

This is a question about the fatty liver matter. What was the 3 week diet you were on to shrink it? I am told that a person's weight and size actually have nothing to do with it. I am curious, however, as to the method used to normalize it somewhat? Thanks!

My pre-op diet is 5-6 cans of slim fast optima a day. I can also switch in broth from time to time. Its 7 day pre-op that was suppose to start tomorrow on Thanksgiving but my surgeon said go and enjoy yourself. So I start Friday.

This is a question about the fatty liver matter. What was the 3 week diet you were on to shrink it? I am told that a person's weight and size actually have nothing to do with it. I am curious, however, as to the method used to normalize it somewhat? Thanks!

My doctor's pre-op diet was 6 Glucerna Meal Replacement shakes (no substitutes) a day, 2 low fat yogurts, 2 glasses of 100% fruit juice, and all of the sugar free, low or now calorie liquids per day including broth. It really varies by doctor though. Some doctors do 2 meal replacement drinks and 1 low carb meal. Some doctors don't even require them on any patients.

Thanks to everyone that responded! It sounds like perhaps a month to 2 from ins approval and surgery date. it is kinda what I was thinking.

To jazzy4Health - Thanks for the words of encouragement witht the communication issue. I am going to call them Monday and insist on knowing the process now that I have only a month of pre stuff to go. It may just be the one girl- if all else fails I will ask for the office manager.

It's funny how the same insurance from a different state can vary. I, too, have BCBS but of Mass. There is no pre-op diet required by them nor by my surgeon, my co-pay is $250.00 but I need referrals for everyone involved, surgeon, dietician, psych. My surgeons office recommends all their pt's to call their ins. co. at least 3 different times and documenting who you spoke with and for them to send specific info regarding LP surgery. Just in case the info varies with each person you speak with at the ins. co. Guess they've had some surprises along the way. Pretty pathetic when we the customer have to call on so many occasions just to be sure THEY know what they are talking about!

After I completed all the insurance requirements, plus all the doctor requirements, my doctor submitted everything to Blue Shield with CalPers in California on October 15 and I was approved by the insurance company on October 16. Surergy occured on 11/11/08. It went really quickly once I was approved.