getting ready....

I have just posted on this board a few times, and when I have it was questions about BCBS of IL PPO insurance. I hope you guys don't get sick of my questions!!!!!!! I live in TN, but Jan. 1 will have BSBSIL insurance ( I switched in hopes of getting approved for lap surgery). I am just wondering if anyone out there with this ins. has been approved without a fight???? I am going to submit all my info to the doctor tomorrow and they are sending it in for me next week. I am so nervous! I went ahead and got all my medical records for the last five years and my doctor wrote me a very good letter, but I am so worried! I guess I am looking for reasurance???? :-l I know by Jan. I will have made myself a nervous wreck worring and waiting for approval!!! How long do you think it will take????????? Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated!!! Michelle

BCBS is one of the most difficult insurance companies to get approval with. I'm sorry but it's true. Back in the day (2 years ago) it was easy. Now they REQUIRE 6-12 months of medically supervised weight loss attempts. That is normally the ONLY thing that holds people up. If you do not have that, start NOW. It will go by in a jiffy. I wish I could say it was easy but everyone is tightening up on their approvals. HTH Melissa Lap RNY 8/31/04 398/319/190

Blue Cross PPO is very difficult. I had a 12 month supervised diet and was still getting the run-around. I fought hard and got an approval, but it was 7 months after fighting that I won. They are hard, but hey, you never know. Good luck! Tricia

I think I have talked to you before! I read your profile again. I can't believe you had to go thru so much to get it approved. I am sooooooo hoping that I get lucky and don't have to go thru so much of there crap! I don't know that I will be willing to go thru all you did, I am so anxious I don't know if I can wait. I am just praying for good luck. I talked so some other people that said it depends on who looks at it and I guess what mood they are in! Isn't that crazy! Well, I'll let you know. Thanks again for the advice.

This is all interesting because my husband got approved with BCBS of IL PPO on my policy. He had is surgery on Sept 30 of 03. He was approved in July of 03. BCBS must have put the diet trys into affect after that. I had my surgery approved in Feb of 03 and did not have any of the diet trys either.

Thank you all for the responses. I went to the hospital yesterday and submited all my thing. I had a very good letter and last 5 year history of all my records. The diet is what I'm worried about too. My doctor did state in the letter my last diet attempt was from Nov. 2002 to Dec. 2003. I have about 6 months of documentation to go with that and I'm hoping that's enough. I did have my pcp put me on a diet in october just in case that didn't work. I've heard so many different things about them. They are going to submit all my things Jan. 3 so I hope it won't take to long to hear something from them. Either way.. I am so anxious already! They are great at the hospital and I know they will do all they can to help me, so now all I can do is pray! Thank you all again and I will keep you posted!

I have blue cross blue shield out of Iowa and I got approved the day after my claim was submitted... Good Luck to you.

Hi Michelle - I have BCBS of Illinois HMO and was approved in 2 days. When I called the insurance company to ask what the criteria was to be approved I was told that the medical group are the ones who approve or deny it - they insurance company would go along with what the Medical Group decided. I would think it would be more difficult to get approved thru an HMO and I did. I really think it depends on your medical group. Good Luck - I know how hard the waiting was - hang in there!! Mary