Any Empire Blue People?

I'm still working towards a surgery date. My provider is Empire Blue. Does anyone know how easy (or hard) their filing process is? As of right now I have an additional 3 wks to be cigarette free before my claim can be submitted. I hope to have my surgery by the end of this year if all goes well, but just getting through the steps seems like forever and a day! Some days I want to give up, and others I say if you all did it then I can too. I guess it depends on my mood for that day. I didn't expect to have anyone say "ok you want RNY...you're approved, but at first it was like like everyday turned into a new appointment. I made it through them all. These past few "smoke-free" wks seem like a lifetime. I'm so tired of being overweight, and maybe my expectations are unreasonable...As I get closer to a date I begin to fear any possible denials more and more. I just hope that once my doctor sends the claim it goes smooth, I pray they don't try to find the slightest reason to deny anything. If there's anyone here with Empire please share your experiences with them, maybe I'll be able to better guage my chances.

Hi Shay,

I'm not with Empire, but I just wanted to offer you some words of encouragement.  I'm in Charlotte also, and am just a few months post-op.  Try and keep positive thoughts and stay your course.  It has been difficult for many of us to get through this process.  I do know that NC is finally looking towards wls as a viable means of keeping health care cost down, and are in the mind set of approving more claims for the procedures to assist workers with bringing their BMI numbers within a normal range.  The same goes with the smoking cessation efforts across the state.  Many insurance companies are offering more and more assistance in helping workers to stop smoking.

Be patient and keep the positive thoughts flowing.  You'll be approved and lined up with your date before you know it.

We'll save you a seat on the losers bench!

J

Thanks for your support.

I have Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO out New York I had no problems with approval.  I know it depends on the policy your employee carries with them.  My co-worker and I were approved with in seventy two hours.  She was a light weight 278 and I was super heavy weight 378.  We were both approved under the same policy.  We did not have to do a diet we both only had to have psych evaluation, pcp reccomendation, fill out our deit history, nutritional evalutaion, and stress test.  So stay postive I know blessing will come your way. 

God Bless

Thanks I'm on a PPO under them. That helps ease my mind. My sister has Aetna and had to go thru a lot. She was approved but only after an apppeal.

Hi,

I was approved under Empire BCBS PPO within 48 hours of submission. It was a breeze after I completed all of the tasks that needed to be completed (i.e PFT, psych eval etc).

Keep up the good work with the quitting smoking.

Hello Shay...,
I have Empire Blue and  the process was smooth and painless (easy). I started the process in January and had surgery in February... That fast! A nurse even called and talked to me, because she had RNY and just wanted to let me know, if I ever wanted to talk, I could call her...

Good luck on your journey..  You will be approved before you know it!

Blessings,
Michelle

Thank you all so much. This was the morale boost I needed! I'm glad to hear that Empire is easy to work with. The no cigarette ordeal was kick-ass for the 1st 3 days...killer head aches, extra moody, extra fidigty, I was a text book case ***** to say the least. I feel better now. 4 more smoke free weeks to go, I finally feel I successfully kicked the habit for good. I never want to smoke again. Just this past wknd I was w/my best friend for lunch. She reeked of cigarettes so I sprayed her with my Bath & Body Works. The smell alone is terrible to me...huh cant really say I'm calling the kettle black anymore-just glad I can breath easier and dont stink like that anymore.