I told you my file was submitted to insurance but it wasn't...

Hi all,

I hate being so downtrodden in my posts, especially considering that at some point all this time spent waiting will seem like a drop in the bucket but right now it feels like a monsoon. I am so frustrated by all the delays, that my resolve is slipping (only slightly, but it's still shaken). I've called and emailed like a madwoman to get my case moving and it's just one thing after the other that's keeping me from getting there. And I'm a very deserving candidate. Not to say that my surgeon has patients who aren't deserving, no no...I just mean that I went to my surgeon's seminar in July of 2009. It's now almost April and there is no end in sight right now. That fact that it could be almost a year before I get in the operating room is crazy to me. It was hard enough to swallow the 6 month supervised diet when I've been on a supervised diet for 20 years! It's looking like June now...maybe?!?! I can't plan anything of substance and my work schedule along with the schedules of my support network for post surgery needs is filling into the summer as well.    I'm weary from all the excuses from the staff within my surgeon's office. I completed the supervised 6 months on February 5th and I was told my case was being submitted on Wednesday, March 10th, and I even posted a celebratory message to you all that it had been submitted. But I got a call last Monday it had not been submitted and that no one had been submitted in almost two weeks due to a special project. She said that the 20 people in front of me as well as my file would get done the week of March 15th. I didn't believe it and unfortunately I was right. It still didn't get in there last I checked with my insurance company on Friday. Oddly enough, the insurance company is very accommodating and said I can call back and check whenever I want...that it's easy for them to check for submission. How backward is that?   I know it's not personal for my surgeon's office, but it's very personal for me. I genuinely hope that their response rate after surgery is much greater than their response for pre-ops and I intend to ask this very question of my surgeon. I chose this program because of the record and experience of this surgeon and I do not intend to quit, but I can't help but wonder if I would have seen faster progress with another office. An almost 2 month delay between completion of 6 month program and insurance submission is unacceptable in my eyes. Am I wrong here? I'm so frustrated...I need some advice. I just don't know what else to do besides the constant stream of phone calls and emails I'm sending the staff there. I probably have a reputation as a huge menace!

I just needed to vent a little. You all are so supportive. Thanks for any advice you can give. I'm about to jump out of my skin over here!!!

Awww, sweetie, I am sooooo sorry to hear about your problems with your approval.
It sounds more like the office staff is at fault for not submitting it when they were supposed to.
Hopefully when they finally do submit it, your approval will be very quick for you.
The waiting is the hardest part darlin, and it does seem like it takes forever.
Keep on your Dr's office,,,,,,,sometimes the dog that barks the most gets fed first, if ya know what I mean?????
My husbands favorite saying is............Patience grasshopper, you must first walk across the rice path without leaving footprints................LMAO!!!!
Good luck and if you need to vent again, I'm here for ya.

Well, you posted it, so I'm going to respond.  I have to agree with your thoughts that you would have seen faster progress (i.e., a surgery date) by now with another office -- no bias here, but simply by reading the OH posts right here on the Md. board.  No doubt Dr. K is an experienced surgeon with an awesome record, but there are a few other local surgeons who are just as competent and who have an outstanding program as well.  I figured you would have at least received a surgery date by now.  Obviously, you meet all the requriements for insurance approval and the delay is, as you said, unacceptable.  I agree with you 100 percent.  I've been thinking of you since you posted the end of your 6 month diet and indicated you were being submitted for insurance approval.  Do I need to make some phone calls on your behalf?  

  My defenders! Ugh...well there's not much more I can do besides what I'm doing. I think I needed to hear how I'm not being unreasonable and have my feelings validated. I complain about this to my sweetheart, but he's a pratical guy and he's got a very "Well what's the point in crying about it...it's out of your control and it's not the end of the world" mentality Yeah, well he's right but that doesn't change how I feel about it and I've been going through a lot of "weight crisis" lately and I can't push these incidents out of my mind by saying..."You're almost there Laura." Ya know? Eck...anyway. Thanks so much for your support. I made the commitment to this office though and I think I just need to decide how far I'm willing to let this go on before I say enough is enough. I really want Dr. K because like I said I've made a lot of commitments in this regard. But I need them to make the commitment to ME. This is just starting to seem really ridiculous though...

As Nessa said -- stay on them!  Pick up the phone this morning and firmly and politely tell them exactly what you have told  us.  This is your SPECIALl project, and it requires their attention.   Enough is enough starting today.

Men, they don't realize sometimes we need to vent and hear that our concerns are valid, even though we can't do anything abou it.

Good luck with the whole process; keep alling insurance and the doctor's office.

how frustrating for you.  I'm so sorry.


the squeaky wheel gets the grease.... stay sane, stay squeaky... keep on them.

Laura, I am so sorry you have had this happen. I would call and email or even go there. They must realize that when people decide to have WLS that they are ready and don't want to wait. I hope that this can be resolved quickly for you as I know you have been waiting and thought all paperwork had been submitted. I will keep my fingers crossed that you can move on quickly. Good luck.

                                                                                                           Julie

Thanks Julie...You are a sweetheart to give me words of support in your time of mourning.  Thinking of you too...thanks.

I'm sorry you are having such trouble. I have a problem with unresponsive doctor's office people.  I would probably not be as patient as you and gone in search of another doctor.  Keep your chin up!!! We are cheering for you.

Kelly