Question

I got the phone call today that I have been waiting for from my doctor's office telling me they received my psych report. I have an appointment with doctor on July 3 to review all my paperwork to be submitted to insurance for approval. His nurse also said they will schedule my surgery. Now, my question is this. Do you think I misunderstood and they schedule after they get the approval. Or do they give you a tentative date? How did your doctors do this? Wonderin'... Thanks, Mare

Mare -  Boy-oh-Boy am I your poster child for this question! My surgery date was tentatively set before UHC approval. My surgery date was yesterday and I'm still not approved. It's a GREAT feeling to get a date but, It's also devastating when it doesn't work out. Most of the time they do a tentative date to get you on the books if your surgeon is really busy. It's really YOUR choice if you want a date or not. It's a tough decision. I will tell you that I wouldn't let them set me another date, they just told me of some possible open dates at this point. Best Wishes!

Oh, I know you do! I was just telling my husband your story. I just have to keep in mind the date is a possibility, but not for certain. Are you kidding? With the long, drawn-out path to where I am currently? Believe me...my expectations are not too high! LOL Try to get some sleep, will ya? I noticed on the message boards this week you haven't slept well. One little sheepy...two little sheepies... Mary Ann

I wish I could sleep - trust me! Suffering with a major bout of insomnia. Dr.'s given me everything possible for sleep.......nothing works. I'm going to wait until I start my job, then hopefully my body will get back to a normal schedule. I'll do a sleep study if I'm still having problems after that. I'd love to ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz!

They have to submit your package to the insurance with a surgery date, location and Dr. identified. All of that can be changed once approval is received.

The date submitted is usually a place holder. Usually your actual surgery date is set once you receive approval. For example, the surgery date that they submitted me with was 5/29/07, but the first slot available when I received approval was 6/6/07.

I hope that helps.

Barb

Thanks Barbara - I wasn't sure what to expect. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Winding down to the final weeks now, I hope. Starting to really set in now. I am so excited, but started getting nervous and twitchy today. I guess everyone will go through that. Thanks again, Mary Ann

I think it may vary somewhat from office to office. I know that they have to provide a date, surgeon and hospital so that they can get the approval.

I imagine with a number of offices that they book the date with the hope that it will actually be used. In the case of DukeWLS Center, even though I had my approval well before the surgery date listed in the request for determination the next opening wasn't until about a week later.

Hope that helps some,

Barb