Medica and PNC timeline ??'s

I saw inanother post that most people get thier insurance approval in about a week. Does anybody know if this is the case with Medica? And then the 2nd part of the ? is does anybody know how long after approval does it take to get scheduled at Park Nicollet? My last dietician appointment is on the 30th and I am super anxious to just get the show on the road! (just like everybody else) I know there is at least one more appointment where I meet the surgeon - - are there many more?

I am just full of questions today

TIA
Jeanette

HI,
I have Medica also... my 3rd structured weight loss visit was a Friday and my approval came on the following Tuesday.   Have you printed Medica's requirements?  I read and re-read them word for word, we submitted everything they wanted.  If you have all the requirements, you should be golden!!  I am going through Healtheast, so I can't answer your 2nd part... but I am sure someone else will. 

Good Luck!! Nicole

http://provider.medica.com/router/default.pdf?doc=/C10/Polic yUtilization/Document%20Library/IIISUR30.pdf

Here is the link on Medica's website for the their specific documentation requirements.

I also have Medica and approval took less than 1 week. HCMC was very careful to submit all of the documentation that they requested.  I went for the last appointment for submission on a Monday - the assistant said that she'd be finishing up and mail my file in the next couple of days - I think she said that it was on a Wednesday and they were scheduling my surgery early the next week. 

I don't know about PNC - HCMC was able to schedule me in under 2 weeks - but my Dr. wanted me to do a 3 week liquid diet and I also had school and a vacation planned that I did not want to be on a liquid diet during so I actually was the one that slowed down surgery. 

Once you're approved they can get you in quite quickly.  I was told (because of my schooling/vacation stuff) that the approval is good for 12 months so if something comes up you don't have to go through the whole thing from the start.

Also, at HCMC you have the information session, you have to get a recommendation from your primary physician wherever you go for that,  then meetings with the nutritionist (either enough to meet your insurance's requirements which for Medica is 3 at the most), if needed a meeting with the primary physician, and finally a consultation with the surgeon.  After you meet with the surgeon they request approval from your insurance company and then surgery is in 2-3 weeks.  You have to get clearance from your primary physician within that time.  I didn't have to do any special tests - EKG or sleep apnea or anything.  I'm not sure why.  HCMC seemed pretty laid back about the whole thing, but through the process they made me feel very safe.  I like that - I don't like being overly fussed over.

Good luck with the rest of your process.  It sounds like you are getting close.  Once you get to that end point, time really flies!

Well there are some differences in each policy, depending on your employer, but I had Medica and went through PNC.  I mailed in my paperwork from the info session on 1/17/07, had surgery on 4/27/07 - so just over 3 months from start to surgery. 

I think that there were about three and a half weeks between meeting Dr. Jones and my surgery date, if that answers one of your questions...

Good luck!  Let us know how it all goes!!!

I don't have Medica but I did have my surgery at PNC and I met with Dr. Jones in early December and had my surgery on 1/29/08.