Any State Employees out there?

Hey, I'm new to this site and doing research/hoping to have the surgery. I'm currently working with my PCP to meet requirements for insurance approval. I was just wondering if there are any state employees w/BCBS who has recently had the surgery?

I am a state employee, my husband has only my insurance, we have BCBS PPO. He is trying to get approved for the surgery. Vanderbilt has turned in all the forms to BCBS and now we are waiting. We should have an answer in 14 - 21 days. Good Luck!

I am a state employee, my husband has only my insurance coverage, we have BCBS PPO, we have submitted all the information to the insurance company and should have an answer in 14 - 21 days. He is going thru Vanderbilt and they have been very helpful with the insurance part. Good Luck

Thanks for the information! I am seriously considering having it at Vandy as well. My doctor knows Dr. Melvin there and highly recommends him. Good luck with you and your husband! April

Hi! I am a State Employee with the BCBS/PPO and I recieved my approval with in 7 days after all the information was submitted by my doctor's office. Because of my insureance, the only hospital that was covered was Vanderbilt and so far they have been wonderful. My surgery date is scheduled for 10/19/2005

Hi Michele! Thanks for the info. I was wondering if you could tell me what information you submitted. I want to make sure I have all my i's dotted and t's crossed. Good luck with your surgery!

Hi April, I made sure that I had all the documentation regarding the diets and all the related health issues, plus I made sure that my letter from my doctor requesting the surgery was also in the packet. I've been going to the same doctor for about 15 years so my records were easy to get together and I actually typed the letter for my doctor because he wasn't sure what to put in it. Also, I read all the insurance policy code and made sure that I covered everything that might come up and might cause a denial to make sure things went quickly. Depending on which insurance you have with the state-the hmo, ppo or the pos I wold suggest getting on line and reading up on the policy and going from there. I know mine policy stated if you had a certain BMI then you didn't have to have any additional co-factors, but if you didn't have the BMI then you had to have to co factors to go along with it. If you need any help just let me know...and I'll do my best to help you. Michele

Hi, I'm new here too. I work for the Dept of Health and have BCBS POS. I had a booger of a time getting them to approve me- took almost a year. Most of it was nitpicky stuff though. I had my surgery 4 weeks ago tomorrow and used Dr. Richards at Vanderbilt. I'm 30 pounds down now and feel so much better. If I can help you, I'd be more than happy to. Good luck!! Karen

Yes, I am a state employee and we are changing from BCBS POS to Cigna POS, the bariatric guidelines and rules are now changing....after I just finished jumping through BCBS hoops and it was submitted today to them....it may all be for nothing...... Lisa

Hi Lisa, I've been jumping through hoops for Aetna HMO with the state but when I found out that the state is switching HMO plan to Cigna and my doctor advised me that Cigna was horrible to work with, I switched to BCBS PPO. I hope they're easy to work with. Thanks for your input and good luck April