The Waiting Game :o(

Hi everyone! I've been monitoring the boards here and let me just say I'm impressed at how encrouaging, caring and supportive you all are! I have had my consult with Dr. Jawad's office and have now satisfied all of my insurance requirements. The surgeon's office should be sending out my insurance packet any day now...so onto the waiting game. I was thinking of calling today to see if they sent it so I could get a ball park on when I should start "bugging" my insurance. Most people say to keep on the insurance. Any words of wisdom? I'm trying to be patient but I want/need this surgery and can hardly wait! Thanks so much for being such great people, I feel comfortable on here! Danielle

Hi Danielle The best words of wisdom is what you see on the boards all the time. The squeeky wheel get oiled first. So be sure to make sure the recieved your paperwork and then call to make sure someone is working on it. Good Luck. gail

Danielle, I would give your insurance company 2 weeks, then start hounding them every day until you get approved. Good luck.

Thanks so much for your responses and encouragement. I will call the surgeon's office today just to see if it was sent out then I will plan my insurance hounding follow-ups accordingly. You all are the best! Another question...any regrets? How are you all doing Post-Op?

Hi Danielle, I'm also doing the waiting game however you are much further in the game than myself. I posted for the first time yesterday and I too have found that everyone is friendly and helpful. Dr. Jawad is also the Dr that I will be seeing. I posted yesterday that 2 years ago I was scheduled and cancelled 2 weeks before due to financal difficulties. Now I have a new insurance company (BCBS of GA) and have to go thru the whole process again. You better believe I wont cancell this time IF I GET APPROVAL. Are you going to the Obesity Surgery Seminar on 8/19 given by Dr. Jawad. If so it would be nice to meet you since we will be going down this road together. I have no advice about patience, I pray for it daily!

Hi Jo! No, unfortunately I won't be in Ocala for that. I live down here in the Fort Myers vacinity and that's quite a travel. Plus I am saving my time off from work for the actual surgery. I'd like to keep in touch with you though, sounds like we may end up on the same time line. If you get approved let me know, maybe we'll have the same Pre-Op date and can meet. In the meantime feel free to e-mail me. Take care and good luck with everything, you'll be fine!

Danielle, just last week I brought the last of my paperwork to Nicia in Dr. Jawad's office so my stuff could be faxed to the insurance company. Nicia said that Heather would fax my file that very afternoon, but I shouldn't start bugging the insurance company until one week from the next day. In other words, I brought my stuff on a Tuesday, and she said I could start calling the insurance company a week from Wednesday. None of that was necessary, however, because Heather herself called me the following day to tell me I was approved!! I called Aetna today and letters have gone out to Dr. Jawad and me, but so far neither of us have gotten them. Dr. Jawad is pretty popular on this board!! Joy just had her surgery today and I happened to see Dr. Jawad this afternoon. I told him I had been thinking about him all day! He looked so puzzled and asked me why and I told him because he had taken such good care of my friend Joy this morning and I was expecting the same for myself in about a month. Good luck on your insurance approval. In my opinion, it's by far the worst part about this journey!! Jan

Welcome to the board I think this group is great also. You can ask anything and someone seems to know the answer. That is because there are people on this board at all stages of pre-op and post-op. I , myself am doing medical tests for pre-op and working towards my surgery date. My advice is to keep a copy of EVERYTHING AND EVERY CORRESPONDENCE. As all doctors and such for copies of medical and make sure you are keeping a file of everything you do. That way if someone loses something................you have it to send instantly. You have the right to have a copy of every procedure so do it. It will assure you nothing gets lost in the trail and have to go back to the start. Also, everyone is right about the hounding of the insurance. Be nice but firm. YOU are the one going to benefit. Good luck. Keep us informed and participate in the conversations here on the board. It really is informative and it helps pass the time.