Nut appt down and insurance fustrations!

So I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere other then *wanting* to have surgery. I had my Nut appointment yesterday with Shannon@ OHSU. She said I was "Very well educated" and shocked at how much I already knew about the surgery I want, the pre-post op diet and that I've been so proactive in trying out all the diff protein options. She said she is putting a flag on my file to for the inpatient Nut knows that I know my stuff, made me feel great! Then I come home.. 5 months ago when I called UHC to find out my pre-qualifiers, one of the things I was told is that I need 3 psyc somethings. I was told by OHSU to call and get their guidlines. HUGE mistake. 2.35 hours later and 15 diff CLUELESS people, I FINALLY got someone *****fused to xfer me any further and then did the phone run around herself. Turns out they have a Baratric "intake" nurse. You give them your info, you get set to the top of a que and they call you back to give you your guidelines.  I was mentally exausted and in tears by the end of it. I work for a healhcare company and we do NOT ever transfer callers. If we can't answer their question, we take ALL of their info and fwd it to the dept that can and they call you back with your answers. We are even set up that providers have online access to our system.. After getting the super nice/helpful manager I expressed this to her. She advised that none and I mean none of their departmental computers are connected. They can't see or share notes. (My company, we have to notate every single call no matter how small the issue may be.) The other thing after doing a LOT of research, turns out I only need 1 eval and that's it. HUGE reliefe and stupid waste of emotional  energy when that is all that OHSU requires too..  The other best thing I learned... Dr. Deeny DOES do the VSG as as stand alone and not just the DS as previously thought. Thanks for letting me vent! Beth

Wow!  You experienced very poor customer service at UHC!  I'd feel frustrated too if I were being transferred repeatedly just because the reps don't know the answer.  Doesn't the insurance company have manuals to help reps answer questions??? Dr. D told me that he does only the DS, RNY, and revisions.  He does VSG only as part of DS and revisions, not as stand-alone operations.

Hang in ther girl You are not the only one that has had some frustrations, One day at a time the gold ring is in sight.

I have UHC too-I found that they seemed only set up to talk to the doctors offices and not the actual patient and (hmm customer?). I called and was told that they make decisions on a case by case basis. That he would read the policy (one sentence stating that they do it on a case by case basis) but that I was not allowed a written policy (very fishy if you ask me!!). When I got to OHSU for my nurse practitioners appt. They made the call as I was going into her office and by the time I came out had all the information I needed (tests required etc. and likelihood that I qualified) was waiting for me. There is obviously a magic number and their customer service people do not have that number or are unwilling to provide it to the customer!! On a good note-They seem to cover at least lapband fairly easily and did not have horrible testing requirements. In fact the approval went faster than all the testing appts. and waiting for results. Good luck in your quest!!