Healthnet HMO

I started by quest to have a lap rny on April 10th by asking my PCP to request authorization to go see the surgeon.  The request was approved on the same day it was received by Healthnet.  The surgeon's office called me with an appointment for the small group consult and I completed that on May 1st. The surgeon's office gave me the referrals for blood, urine, chest xray, nutritionist and psych eval.  I have completed everything so far except the psych (which is next Monday) and the ekg which I will do on Thursday afternoon.  Yesterday I received all of the "formal" approvals for the consults from Healthnet.  I am totally in awe of how quickly the process is going so far and how easy Healthnet HMO has been to deal with.  The surgeon's office (Dr. Waldrep in Roseville CA) is wonderful in taking care of all the insurance stuff.  I think the last hoops I have to clear are my one-on-one with the surgeon and the formal approval of the surgery itself by HNHMO. Has anyone else had an easy time with this process?  After reading eveyone's horror stories I'm almost afraid that this is going too "quick and without complications" for me. Is there any chance that after all of these quick approvals they will not approve me for surgery? My bmi is 41, 263/5'7", high blood pressure and severe degenerative disk disease in lumbar spine (Healthnet is paying for a bi-lateral lumbar epidural on Thursday for severe pain).  I don't know why I'm freaking out now - I just want to join everyone on the Losers Bench and start my new healthy life.

I have healthnet HMO and even though I'm still in the VERY beginning stages, my (hopefully) surgeon said healthnet is by far the easiest insurance to work with (in his experience).  Just be thankful you don't have Cigna or Aetna!  I hear those are HARD to work with!  Good luck!

Thanks Calico, that is good to hear!  Can they still require me to do the 6 month diet?  I am not sure if they would tell your PCP that when the initial request is first made for consultation with a surgeon or if they give you that piece of bad news when the surgeon requests permission to operate:(