Insurance approval & denial question/poll

I am curious how many people out that were approved the very first time their paperwork was submitted to the insurance company and how many were denied and had to appeal. How many times did you have to appeal? Who is your insurance company and how long was it from submitting to first denial/approval? Thanks in advance for your response!

I was approved within 6 days of the insurance company receiving all their necessary records and test results. I had Anthem Blue Cross PPO. They paid all but 1500.00 of the 25,000.00 cost of the surgery and hospital stay. I was very blessed! Betsy

Michelle, I was denied the first time and that took about 6-7 weeks. I took another month or so to get my appeal information together and was approved just last week. That was an additional 2 weeks from when I sent the appeal in. Linda

I was denied the first time and getting ready to send additional information. Insurance also wanted 18 months of physician supervised diet but in Indiana the law states six months. My husband was denied twice and we're awaiting word on the third appeal decision any day now! Good luck with your submission.

Originally, I was with MPlan. Denied. Appeal, denied again. Then I switched to Anthem, approved the first time within 2 weeks. Insurances can vary depending on who they are through. Anthem paid mine 100%.

M-plan was a trip...around the world and back again. I started the process, followed the rules was denied. The rules had changed and no one told me or my PCP. Started over, denied; written appeal, denied; appeal to committee, approved. All in all, four years of fighting, but worth every minute of it. Annette

Anthem Blue Access approved first time it took 2 weeks, but I did my homework and had my pcp write a letter also that showed we had been working together for over the 18 months of diet tries. I had to have my surgery before Jan 1, 2006, because the blue access plan I was with was dropping wls coverage. We could have purchased a rider but it was1/3 the cost of our insurance for the whole year. They fit me in and I had surgery on 12/14/05. 6.5 weeks from my initial consult.

I have Aetna -- I was denied, so I appealed -- then denied again. They said I had to see a registered dietician for at least six months before they would look at it again. I went to the dietician for seven months, sent the paperwork in again, and it took them about 2-3 months to FINALLY approve me. Tina

I have medicare. I became eligible for medicare on 11/01 and was given a surgical date on 11/10.

Anthem BC/BS - Approved 1st time within 2 weeks. Also did all of my homework, gathered info and got a letter from my PCP. I think the letter from your Dr. definitely helps along with any and all co-morbids. Good luck!