I have been approved by my BCBS MI insurance but now I am waiting on LapBand approving my insurance. My doc's office said this is something new for them. Has anyone else had experience with this. I have not heard of a medical supplier needing to approve an individual insurance before.:confused:

Does your insurance have a network? Is your surgeon IN That network? Most insurance companies have a network of surgeons you may choose from; it's possible your surgeon has applied to be one but the paperwork isn't finalized...

If that isn't it, ask your surgical center what it means and how long it might take.

If your Ins does have a network and your surgeon isn't in it, you might want to switch...?

My doc is employed by the hospital, is in network for my insurance and has done thousands of LapBands and bypass surgeries. They said this is the first time they had to send in a form to LapBand. It should only take 72 hours for a response. I work in the health field and haven't heard of a medical supplier approving insurance.

Hey I am from Michigan too. Wondering where in michigan and who is your doc. I am going through grand river surgery. I live in rockford. Always nice to see a fellow michigander

My doc is employed by the hospital, is in network for my insurance and has done thousands of LapBands and bypass surgeries. They said this is the first time they had to send in a form to LapBand. It should only take 72 hours for a response. I work in the health field and haven't heard of a medical supplier approving insurance.

Wow, that is interesting and nerve racking too! I have never heard of this before.

Where in Michigan are you from?

I am from SW Michigan. Dr. Michael Schuhknecht is my doc. He is at Laleland Compreehensive Weight Loss Center in Niles.

LapBand approved my insurance :thumbup:and BCBS approved my surgery:thumbup: so I am scheduled for banding on Mon Feb 2. :bored:

After some investigating on the LapBand website I found that they do the insurance approval to be sure the patient has enough coverage for the surgery. They have a patient assistance program I guess to help if there isn't enough coverage.