I believe I met the surgeon that was to perform the Lap-band on me back in October of 2008. Since then I have met with all kinds of specialists for approval of the surgery. I had a sleep test done at the hospital. My insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield IL - HMO had approved everything... I have/had an appointment scheduled with the surgeon for this coming Friday and I just called to confirm that they had all the evaluations needed so that when I met with the surgeon again we could take the next step which I understood was to schedule the surgery.

Well the nurse informed me that due to contract negotiations the insurance has cancelled all surgeries. I have to wait AT LEAST 2 months.... but maybe more just to maybe schedule the surgery, mabye. She said another option could be to go back to my primary care doctor and have him refer me to another surgeon at a different hospital since the one I was seeing is the only one covered by my insurance at that hospital.

Should I call the insurance and see what they say?

Should I go see my primary care doctor?

I'm so sad. I am so ready for it now. :thumbup:

I know that it seems a long way off, but 2 months isn't the end of the world. I had my first consult with the surgeon back in May 08 and just had my surgery on Friday 1/16/09. I don't think that this is the norm, but the surgeon had some personal issues that had him out of the office for a couple of months.

I would look into your options, but if the best option is to wait the couple of months, go to some extra support groups, work on changing your eating habits, practice chewing your food to liquid consistency, etc. Once your surgery comes around, you'll be even more prepared.

good luck!

We have BCBS (PPO not HMO) and I am not even going to bother with them. We are going to finance it instead. BCBS drug us into the middle of a contract war with our kid's doctors office. They sent us a letter saying, oh so sad you must like your doctor, but they are being unreasonable. you shuold call them and get mad at them, but in the mean time, start looking for a new doctor". Then the doctors office wrote us and said "you insurance company is being unreasonable, you wont be covered any more after march here. Call you insurance company and tell them not to be such _____"...ok that wasnt the wording in either of them, but you understand. I was so upset. My daughter has a serious health condition and having to leave the doctor who has seen her through it was really upsetting. They ended up resolving in a matter of a few weeks. But sometimes they do not. I would start looking for a new doctor and see if they come around too. 2 months isnt a long time in the grand scheme of things, but when you are ready right now, it seems like forever.

Thanks so much every body. I called the insurance this morning... they said the negotiations the surgeon is having are not with them, the insurance company, but with the Health Group (the hospital)... so I called the Health Group... they said I need to call my PCP so he can refer me to a different surgeon because it can take a LONG time (if it happens) before the surgeon and the group finish negotiations.

I'm calling my PCP today. What a pain in the butt.