When should I start calling and bugging them?

Hi everyone, i was just wondering, should I start calling this week or should I wait until next week? My surgeon submitted my paper work to Aetna for my surgery on Friday the 20th. I don't know how they do it, do they fax it or mail it and when should i call them ( insurance ) to see what they have to say? Thank you all for being here for me and God bless us all. Karen Legge Seminole, Fl

Karen, what Aetna do you have? HMO, PPO?

I have Aetna HMO

Karen, my surgeon's office just faxed my entire file to Aetna and there was an answer is less than 24 hours! I have Aetna HMO. Anyway, I asked them the same question as you and they said to start calling in a week. Good luck!! If you gave them everything (and I do mean everything) they require, you shouldn't have any problems. Jan

Karen, I have Aetna HMO and the surgeons office submitted all paperwork required and Aetna took the entire 45 days they are allotted to approve. On the 45th day they approved me and i had the surgery two weeks later. I wish you luck. I called them every day after the first two weeks. I had the surgery 4 months ago, life is good.

This is not ment to be an indictment on my doctors office. I find them to be quite efficent, competent and well meaning. If fact this surgeon, in my estimation, is the the best in the country. But...My surgeon's office sent the request to the WRONG place. The wrong place had it for two weeks. They were kind enough to send it back to the doctors office with a cover letter saying where it SHOULD go. That was 8/3/04. Nothing happened. This is after 4 emails and 4 phone calls! On 8/18/04 I got involved. I called my insurance office and they didn't know anything about a request for surgery. "They" called the doctor's office fand got the right person for me on 8/19/04, and had that person fax the request late on 8/19/04 (insurance got it after they closed for the day). On 8/20/04 I was approved at 2PM. My insurance approved it in 6 hours! Your destiny is in your own hands, my dear! Get involved, stay involved. I also didn't want to bother busy people but where would I be if I didn't? I'm sure that this is not the norm, just an exception. Again, this is not ment to be an indictment on the doctors office. I find them to be quite efficent, competent and well meaning. This is a comment on taking care of yourself.