Is anyone with IL BCBS PPO getting approved?

I'm wondering if anyone is getting approved, and what you had to do to get it. I was denied a couple times, and the surgeon's office is not helping me, because they are too busy.

Colleen, I do not know 1 person who has been approved by them in the last 6 months. I got denied last week. Their letter simply restated the requirements and suggested I read them. I have sent ALL of it in already and more. The coordinator of the Riverside Bariatric Program is fighting it out for me, but even she is frustrated. She says they should approve it eventually and that they are just stalling. I have met all the requirements and am very frustrated. I think BCBS has a limit to the number of appeals you can file. What reason are they giving you for denial? Good Luck, Sherry

If your surgeon's office is too busy to help you GET surgery, chances are they'll be too busy to help you out afterwards too. Just my opinion...but I'd say find another surgeon. I never even really communicated with BCBS because the surgeons office did everything for me. Same with my plastics coming up in July..also covered by BCBSIL, even the breast implants...the surgeons office did everything...In both cases I never spoke with the ins. until they called to give me the good news about my approvals. You're paying big bucks here...the surgeon's office should be doing a little butt kissing.

Hi Colleen, You may want to go to the main board and see if anyone has been approved and what they did. BCBS of IL is the worst, sorry . I was lucky we had BCBS of CA and they were the best! Take care and good luck Kathy

I was lucky, I had my surgery in June of 2003. I have BCBS of IL and had no trouble at all getting approved and I only had a BMI of 41. However, I know that they are much more difficult to work with now. I had my surgery in Harvard and they did all of the calling, I didn't have to do a thing. I agree with the other post, your doctors office should be the one doing all of that. Besides, the insurance company will listen to them much more then you. Good Luck and you may want to consider contacting Mercy Harvard Hospital in Harvard, IL (about 30 miles east of Rockford) they are great.

I've been fighting BCBS IL for 2 months now. If all else fails I will give obesitylawyers.com a try. They have a 95% success rate. The cost is 450 to 750 for them to help with your appeal. I will let you know how things go for me. Dahlfan