Can you be denied after you've been approved?

I have been approved by my insurance company for the band.  My surgeon's office has just been authorized to perform the Vertical Sleeve Gastectromy .  I want to switch to that procedure, but in order to do so, a new letter of medical necessity (asking for VSG instead of band) has to be submitted to my insurance for approval. If my insurance company does not cover the VSG (I understand that many ins. cos. consider it "experimental") - will/can my previous approval for the band be nullified and/or rejected? Ann

Ann, Good luck!  I am in the process of getting an appeal together for VSG.  I am not an insurance representative (nor do I play one on TV) but my guess is that you would still be approved for the lap.  I would call the insurance company and find ou how long you have to have the surgery once it is approved.  I have heard of companies giving you 6 months to do the surgery.  That would be my first step,  Then you know how long you can take with your appeals.  I would think that it would not nullify it.  If you are compliant with the requirements, that does not change if you decide that a different surgery would be better.   By the way, what do you mean by   My surgeon's office has just been authorized to perform the Vertical Sleeve Gastectromy ?  I am not aware of any board set up to make that authorization.  Don't get me wrong, it would be a good thing if there is.  I think that may help the fight with the insurance company in favor of the VSG. Martha

Good question.  The New Start Center in STL is a Center of Excellence.  I'm assuming that the approval comes through that somehow.  I'll ask next time I talk to one of the admin girls.

Please let us know what they say. It would be a big plus for many of us fighting the insurance battle. Thanks Martha

Will do.  What kind of battles are you fighting?