ONE DAY BEFORE SURGERY AND WAS DENIED!!!!!!

Will, hear I am one day before surgery and I get a phone call from Missy at Dr. Irgau's office that she heard yesterday that CIGNA had denied my claim. (a call yesterday would have been nice)! I've been on my liquid diet for two day's now!!!! So of course I called CIGNA and was told that Dr. Irgau's office would have to appeal this decision (Missy of course did not make mention of this) Part of the problem is that when I was at my pre-opt. appointment on (7-07) I was told that I did not have approval from CIGNA as of yet, so I call CIGNA when I got home and was told that they had not received any paper work from Dr. Irgau's office yet (this was one week before surgery)! I was told all along that CIGNA was a hard insurance to work with, but filing a claim only one week before surgery did not help!!!! And then to be told that you have been denied ONE DAY BEFORE SURGERY!!!! Is poor office management. I don't know what else to do. I called the Insurance Commissioner's office and filed a complaint, but is will be 3-days before I hear back from them. I'm sorry that I'm venting, but I'm so upset about this. I did everything that I could do. On Friday Missy had me running back and forth from Dr. Irgau's office and my primary Drs. office getting letters and office records. I'm a diabetic and for that reason alone should be a very good reason to have this surgery. This would save the insurance company untold amounts of money in the long run. I wanted to be able to have this surgery and be on my feet by Sept., because I'm a teacher and I'm off for the summer. Well, thank you for reading this gripe letter and I hope someone can tell me what else to do?

I am so sorry, but don't give up. Find out what they need to get you approved, it might be something very simple. Keep fighting, and keep us posted. Just a little bump in the road, believe me I had many. Take care, Dana

Rosemary: Boy do I know how you feel. I was called on my second day of fast to cancel my surgery. I immediately left work and high tailed to the Lone Star with my kids for a HUGE dinner (so funny, that's how I used to reward myself). Anyway I know that you are so frustrated right now. Keep at it. Keep making the phone calls and following up. I had a few surgical dates, I was sure that it was never going to happen for me... But it did. Use this time wisely to better prepare for your actual date. Keep copies of everything. Again make all the follow up phone calls to make sure everything is being done. Oh and Misty caught the brunt of my frustration that day. I still feel a little embarrassed when I see her in the office after that day. Dianne

Thank you Dianne for the words of encouragement the "Lone Star" thing certianly sounds good about right now after two day's of liquids, but I'll try to hold off. I just got a phone call from Julie in Dr. Irgau's office and she said that we will have to wait for a denial letter and go from there. She also said that they have a phone # that Dr. Irgau can call to talk to someone about this, but he is in surgery now. All I can do is wait. Thanks, Rosemary

Hang in there and keep fighting! Insurance companies sometimes need to be prodded to make the right decisions. Bombard them with any information they want and then some. Sometimes we have to go along with their flow, but in the end it works out. I have known several folks who got postponed at the very last minute, but did finally get approved and were rescheduled and are now doing fine. Being a diabetic certainly will have an impact on their decition. I don't know if you have any other health conditions that can be improved by having the procedure, but if you do they should know about them as well. The timing is rotten, but know that you have our support. You are in my prayers--try your best to hang tough! Sue

So sorry to hear that Rosemary. Keep your head up things will get better. Christie

hey rosemary so so sorry to hear about all the things not going the way it should,but stand strong and firm and we all believe it will happen one way or another.we all will keep you in our prayers.it was really great talking to you on im.and sweetie feel free to vent anytime this is what this board is all about venting and sometimes we need to vent to our little family on here for alot of us know what you are going through and i know alot of love and support will be sent your way so hang in there sweetie and it will be here and you'll be on the losing side too.sending ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) your friend bonnie

HUGGLES for you! I'm so sorry to hear about this... I hope that you will be approved soon, keep your chin up and think happy thoughts, you'll get there, I know you will!!! Rachel

Geez, I'm so sorry! What happened to you was what I was afraid of happening to me. I got my approval the morning before my surfery. I was freakin out as I'm sure you were. I learned a very hard lessen that day. I learned that any thime you want something that is elective, you must get copies of everything for your records, document everything (you never know, that pimple on your ass could be the difference between yes and no), and you also find out who is your case worked at the insurance company and you also fax everything to them yourself. You keep your head up, get right back on top of them. Squeaky wheel gets the oil! Dee