How long? Cleveland anyone?

Hello,  I'm having my surgrey at Cleveland clinic and I'm at the part where I'm waiting for the final ok from my insurance for my surgrey date. Anyone had thiers at CC? How long did it take for CC to send in the papers and how long do you wait for the ok? They have had all my papers and results since Dec. 17th, and I just going crazy waiting? Can anyone help me with a time frame? I would love that. My insurance has said ok to us and said I was covered and waiting for word from the doctor. So I was just wondering. Any help would help me in waiting. Thanks,  Tina

Tina, if your insurance has already sent you an approval letter, what could be wrong with calling the surgeon office and saying "hey, I got my letter - would you like a copy til you get your letter from my insurance?"  That's what I did with my Center that is admittedly smaller than Cleveland Clinic and they thanked me.  That was in Nov, they got their letter mid December. Janice

Hi,  It;s not that I got a letter but I got is them telling me all they need is a phone call from doctor because they said that I was approved and they not need the paper work from the CC. I guess I don't know. Just waiting

Hi,    I  think I waited about 4 weeks for the insurance company to get my letter of approval to the Cleveland Clinic. My surgery was scheduled 3 weeks later. I could have done it  in 2 weeks but I wanted to celebrate my daughters 13th birthday first.  Good luck, the time will pass quickly.

Hi, I like to ask more if I could? They have all my stuff since Dec. 17th and we called my insurance company Fri 1-4 and they said they havne't gotton anything from Cleveland Clinic and that all they need is a phone call from the doctor. Do you kn ow if Cleveland does that? Also, is it a good idea to call Cleveland and ask how its going or moving along? I'm just so ready and my work is waiting for a time. I was just wondering? Thanks, Tina

Yes, call the Cleveland Clinic they may have to resend your information.  Ask them to fax the information to your insurance company they do that if it is not too many pages. That way you will know they received it. I had Medical Mutual insurance and they told me they did not have my info and the Clinic had to remail mine it was too long to fax. Debbie was really great answering any questions I had and I called her dozens of times waiting for approval. I believe they can do the peer to peer  with your insurance company.

Yes, I just talked to Kim at Cleveland Clinic and she said that she talked to my insurance today and they didn't get the papers that they sent at the end of last month and when she was on the phone with them they said I was approved but that is not enought for CC because they want it in writion or something I guess. so the insurance company told them to resend the paper work and they will approve it that way??!? I don't understand that?? They say yes and CC has a way of doing things and they won't take the word of my insurance company. Kim said they want to do it this way that way later on she saids my insurance company can't some back and say that I was not approved and me end of getting the bill that they won't cover. You get that? I'm confused? All I know is that my insurance said yes and I still have to wait! A little upsetting for me.  Tina

I know it is hard to be patient but Cleveland Clinic is doing it the right way. This way the approval is in writing and they have proof of it. They are many people at the insurance company and you don't just want to trust their word on it,having proof is better. 

Hi Tina- Being so close yet feeling like you are so far from surgery is quite frustrating. I had the same road block in my journey.  I still cannot understand how paperwork is lost (not received). None the less, Hang in there, all is not lost! What I did when I was in a similar situation with my insurance company (Anthem) & CCF, I talked to Debbie Cash at CCF as well as Anthem. I gave Anthem's Utilization Review (approval) department CCF's fax number. Anthem faxed the approval to CCF ahead of time to get the process moving while CCF waited on the snail mail to deliver the approval letter. This happened on April 14th, 2007. April 19th I was given my surgical date of May 9th 2007.  Everything moved so fast afterword!  It seems like a lot, but you do want to make sure that CCF has the documentation so that you won't get stuck with a bill later on. It may feel frustrating right now, but HANG IN THERE! Try contacting your  insurance company's approval department and give them CCF's fax number and have them fax your info to get this process rolling. CCF has  wonderful program that is all inclusive and you have made a very wise decision. Keep at it! Good Luck & God Bless!

Hi, Tina.  I had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and had a problem with the Clinic sending my paperwork to the wrong location.  The Clinic kept telling me it had been sent and my insurer kept telling me they didn't have it.  I finally verified with my insurance company exactly where the paperwork from the Clinic needed to be sent.  Then I called the Clinic, told them my insurer had never received their request for approval paperwork, and asked them to send it again to the address my insurer had given me.  The Clinic resubmitted my request for approval, and I had a response from my insurer within a week or so.   I'm not clear from your post whether your insurer has the paperwork from the Clinic; in my experience, most insurers will not take this kind of request over the phone, but will require written documentation.  I'd suggest calling your insurer to verify whether they've received the application from the Clinic; if not, verify the address/fax number where it should be sent, call the Clinic, and tell them to resend it.   Good luck on your continuing journey -  Kellie