I got approved in 9 days by Medicaid/Anthem Hoosier Health for Dr Inman to do the Sleeve.

Oh my gosh! Its finally real to me. I got Medicaid (Anthem Hoosier healthwise) to approve whats considered a "experimental" surgery to other insurance companies to approve the Sleeve operation. In 9 days! What a wonderful surprise to come home to after the holidays!!!! I'm so excited & have a surgery date of 1/27/11. I can't believe its finally gonna happen. 1st request and I'm approved... I feel so unworthy of this. I can't imagine what life will be like afterwards!! <3 <3 <3

Glowing right now!!

 Wow! that is awesome! That gives me such hope, I have the same insurance & Clarion North just sent off mine to them, hopefully I will receive good news soon too!

You should hear something soon but I will say.. the loudest dog will be heard-- meaning: Stay on top of things. call the insurance company to see if its been approved. Call the insurance dept @ the office to make sure they do their part. Make sure you dont just sit back and trust that "someone will do it" because you'll be waiting forever.

 Exactly, I called insurance on Friday, they hadn't received anything from Clarion yet, I called the office insurance & was directed to voicemail, they still haven't called me back. I will be calling them again in the morning. 

Yeah I got a call from Heather Glenn (she does the scheduling for their office) and she informed me that she got my file last monday (Dec 13th) and that she will be calling me in the next 2-3 wks w/my preop class, preop testing and surgery dates. To expect it will be sometime in march. Im so upset. I cant believe it takes THIS long to get things done and get to the OR. Meanwhile, I'm gaining weight for some reason and I am about 85% on this preop diet. I have no idea why either. I'm starting to get frustrated.

 Well i never received a call back from the ins. dept @ clarion. I have called 2x & both times said would return my call within 24 hrs. Medicaid said that I had to refer to my provider & that it normally takes the min of 30 days to get approved, I was like "really someone else I know of was approved in 9 days" so apparently clarion hasn't sent my info over which really makes me upset. I have an appt with the dietician on the 22nd, & I want answers! I am supposed to be @ consult weight of 335lbs, but I was 347 last time & I know I will either be the same or more bc of being sick & unable to exercise. Its like no matter what I eat on the liver reduction diet I still gain. I pray it doesn't take until March to get my surgery. Ugh. Let me know if you hear anything changes for you!

It sounds like it hasnt been sent off yet because you're still doing parts of whats required of a Pt. Your dietician appt was JUST on the 22nd. Most of the time, all of your pre-surgery approval (insurance induced) requirements will be done about a month before your file is sent to the insurance for approval. Try to not get too upset... i find myself gaining weight since ive been on the liver reduction diet. It'll be interesting to see what is done about it @ the date of surgery-- Feb 1st. I got that date last week. February seems so far away.

 well the dietician appt was my 8th appt, ive done my 6 months of supervised but not down to consult weight which is why they made me go again. they said they were still going to send to insurance end of november. I asked before i left why no one had returned my calls & the lady went back & got someone from ins. to come talk to me, she was like "well u haven't turned in your 5 years of history" i said "yes i did last month", apparently the receptionist LOST 5 years of my medical records that i had to PAY to get in the first place & now they didn't know what was going on, then the ins lady said "give me ur number & i'll submit this 1st thing in the morning, oh wait here is the paper that says it was sent to anthem on dec 2nd. & so i will call them" so they did actually call me back & said that a "nurse was reviewing my file at anthem to be approved & shouldnt be much longer" ugh. I am not happy with Clarian right now. 

Congratulations!  I had my sleeve done on 4/29 and I've lost over 100 pounds.  I am excited for you! I haven't really seen anyone else on the Indiana boards who has had the procedure, so I haven't really been active much on the site, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask! 

I have not had a weight loss surgery. I 'm researching the different surgeries. I don't know which one is best. I read message boards and some people have alot of problems after surgery. What made you decide on the sleeve, do you have to take vitamins the rest of your life like RNY, do you lose hair. Anything you can tell me will be appreciated. Thanks !    Congradulations on your 100 pound weight loss.