I am approved

August 25, 2007 I am approved,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just thrilled beyone words.  .  It is Saturday so can't call the surgeon's office for an appointment.  This will be a long weekend. I have been reading all kinds of posts where people get deniend or have to wait 6 months so I was almost to the point where my insurance company would do that to me. I told my husband right away and he said we needed to celebrate!!!!!!!!!! Then called my daughter at work and she was even excited for me.  I left a message for my son to call me, he has no clue I have even been considering this.  So I am hopeful he is positive about it. Barb

Congratulations, Barb! That is very exciting news! I am just starting the process, myself and I am really hoping that my insurance provider isn't too difficult in approving mine, nor lengthy. It has taken a lot of nerve to even get me to this point! I know that it varies in approval time and such, but I am wondering, how long did it take your insurance to approve it? Also....anyone else out there reading this- about how long does it take normally, from the time you get approved to the actual surgery? I am just hoping that there isn't a long wait.

I know about the nerve part, I had been thinking of this for almost two years and finally attended Dr. White's seminar in July and things just kind of snowballed from there.   The seminar was on a Wed I think and had an appt. Friday with Roxi and the NUT.  I came back home and made an appt for my psyc. evaluation.  I was really luck with the psych eval.  My employer has a thing set up for employees where we  can go up to 4 times a year to see a physcholgist and they pay for it.  So that was paid for, I did go see the pyschologist  3 times and the last time she had my husband and daughter come in with me to talk about my obesity issues.  I did all the lab work right away too and made sure those were sent to Dr. White's office too. Finally I made an appt. with my local Dr.  I put that off till last thinking he would not be pleased with my decision to have surgery.  Boy was I surprised he was behind me 100 percent.  He sent a letter right away.   Anyway the Bariatric team sent me stuff in to the insurance company on a Friday and I got a letter on  Saturday which would have been either 8  or 15 days and I was approved.  I am still in shock I was told it could take up to a month to hear back.  I have the exact days wrote down on my calendar work. 

Wow! That WAS fast! Well, I had contacted the number I found for Dr. Holloway's office and at least got that started. I believe I talked to Mona there who was a lot of help. From there, I contacted my insurance provider to find out if they even had coverage for WLS and found out that they do but I have to have my doctor fax clinical notes to them for it to be considered. (And I don't even know exactly what clinical notes are...) So then, from there, I made an appointment with my local doctor, which is this coming Tuesday. He and I have actually talked about WLS before but I have always wanted to try different options instead. So, I know that I am probably not going to have any problems with him. I am just not 100% sure what else I need to do. The insurance provider just said that all they needed were those clinical notes faxed in to them from the doctor and that was it. There wasn't anything said about psych evaluation, seeing a dietician, etc. So I guess I am unsure if that's stuff that maybe I should look into doing, just in case, or not? I dunno. But I am really hoping that I can get approved and set up for surgery rather quickly. It would be awesome if I could have it all done before the month of Sept. is over. I don't know if it's possible, as I don't know what the normal time frame is, but it would definitely be awesome!

Congrats!  That is awesome!  What kind of insurance do you have????? I'm so worried that mine will inform me that I have to diet 6 months and my PCP said he will do everything in his power to make it not so.  I had ALL my pre-op testing done as required before I meet with the surgeon, so am about 1 pint less in blood and done.  LOL  I see my surgeon on the 5th and I'm getting excited, nervous etc.  I also have the information session that day.  so it will be a long day for me and hubby!  But well worth it!~ I'm so excited for you so that you can get everything moving!  Keep us updated!   Huggers!   Laurie

We have FEP BCBS.  I see my surgeon on Sept 11th. and I am getting nervous and anxious at the same time. Barb

Hi Barb, WooHoo! Congratulations on getting approved. That is so cool. Sometimes it takes some people awhile to be supportive. Let us know how you are doing. Mona

Thank You. Barb