I am worried!

I went for the first part of my sleep study today (not the overnight part). The earliest they can get me in in November 2. Then I have to go back on November 9. My doctor will not submit to the insurance company until I have this done, therefore no surgery date. I am worried that my insurance will drop this part of the coverage before I can have my date. The HR manager did not sound happy when I told her what I was doing..she was almost angry about it. I am so afraid they will drop this off of my insurance and I will not be able to do this. How long did it take for the doctor to schedule you for surgery after you were approved? Did you doctor give you a date before all of the tests were done? I am really stressing out over this!! Thanks for all of your help, Carol

Hi Carol, I don't understand why they are making you wait like that with the sleep study! That really does not seem fair at all. If I were you, I think I would ask the doctor if another sleep lab can be used, and possibly you can get in sooner. Also, when I had mine done, it just so happened that they had a cancellation the very night that the doctor's nurse called me about making the appointment...so maybe you can be put on some sort of cancellation list?? I would call everyone concerned and bug the hell out of them, ask if it has to be done in THAT particular facility. Also, call the insurance company yourself and find out exactly what is covered, what is not, and when or if part of it will be dropped. I feel you have the right to do this without going through someone else. As far as how long it takes the doctor to schedule you after approval, I cannot answer that, since I am still waiting for approval. However, I have heard other patients that my surgeon has say that they were scheduled AS SOON AS the approval was received from the insurance company. I don't know if this helps you any at all...but please know that you are in my prayers and I am working on visualizing you having the surgery ASAP! God bless you! Pat

Carol, I'm sorry you are so stressed! There always seems so much to do. You might call around to see if there are any other sleep labs in the area that you could use. You could also request having a "split study". That is where you sleep half the night without the CPAP and half the night with it. If you have what insurance considers "enough" apnei episodes in the first half of the night, they can go ahead and hook you up to the CPAP for the rest of the night and do your titration (where they figure out how much pressure you need). If the dr. will do this, it would cut down on the time. Also, perhaps travelling a little further to have the sleep study done sooner might help as well. I had a complication that came up during my pre-op testing. Although I was approved by insurance on Aug. 10, it was mid-Sept. before I got my date. Hopefully, you'll move the process without any complications. Hang in there! Catherine

Carol, the sleep study center my surgeon used was booked up for a while. What I did was, found out all the possible tests my PCP, and surgeon wanted me to have. Then, I found out which I could have done before I went to the surgeon. I knew I had to have the sleep study, so I discussed this with my PCP. He agreed that I needed one, given my history. So, he gave me the referral, and I found a local hospital that would do it. I just called several until I found one that would do it soon. They did it within a week. I think you should also talk to your PCP. Can't he write you the referral, but just not put the words "surgically cleared" until he gets the results. It is my understanding that they can be separate letters. Good luck! Let me know what happens. Hugs! Kathy