Keeping My Fingers Crossed! Update II & BC/BS of Illinois Question???

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE... PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE... PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE... I have to keep repeating this in my head!  Why have I all of the sudden become such an impatient person in life?  Is it because this is probably one of the most things I've ever wanted in life... EVER???   

I'm using you all as my sounding board... sorry to vent in your ears.   I had my final appointment with Dr. Singh yesterday, turned in all my final paperwork, and simply just can't wait!  I called today and was told that they had my charts and would be submitting it to the insurance company today.  I felt a little let down and discouraged when they told me that cusomarily they have had slow response time from BC/BS of Illinois.  Ughhhh!   Any personal experiences with BC/BS Illinois???

Kelly,

I don't have any specific experience with BC/BS Illinois, tho I did have BC/BS Carefirst here in MD in 2004 for my surgery.   It's not always the insurance company though, but rather the particular policy that the employer insuring you has written for them.   Getting through the hoops and getting the paper work to the insurance company is a major part of the battle.   Once you are there, it may take a bit but if all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed you will have your approval. I think my experience was probably atypical ... I had gone to BTC (now Barix) in Langhorne PA initially for a consult, then switched to Delmarva Bariatric in Salisbury with Dr Sofronski.   When DBC called Carefirst to open a claim for me, there was already one started because Barix had already called.   My approval just sort of 'happened' I wasn't even really aware of when the paper work was submitted, but was at DBC for a scheduled appointment with Dr Sofronski and the program coordinator got the call while I was there that I was approved.   My total time from first consult with Dr Sofronski to surgery was about 7 weeks, but that was after 2 1/2 years of research and thinking about it, but once I decided I wanted it ASAP and was fortunate enough that it all worked out for me. I know that as bariatric surgery has become more prevalent the insurance companies have made it more 'difficult' to get approval but again, some of that is how the policy is written. Best wishes to you for a very speedy and positive response tho! Hugs, Mo

Not that I have anything to help with insurance, sorry. But, I'm happy to know I'm not the only impatient person. However, in my defense, had I been more patient, I might still be waiting for my approval. What normally takes 3 days, took 32 days!  I think it seems forever, after all of the work we put into preparation. Basically, we knew what we wanted when we picked our surgeon, right? So, now who are these people who are holding us up? Hopefully, like I was the exception in having to wait too long, you'll be the exception in getting a quick approval. I won't say be patient, but I will say, try not to stress about it. I did what all of the books I had read suggested... I called my insurance company every day to check the status, and see what the hold-up was. Because if they are waiting for information, then they should be letting you know so you can either get it yourself, or contact your doctor for it. Like my very smart friends here told me, the insurance company works for you. I tried not to call the doctors office often, but I did call my insurance plan every day to check. I probably, hopefully drove them crazy.  Crazy enough that they won't keep the next patient hanging and waiting.