Anyone with Meritain Healthlink insurance?

I am currenly wanting lapband surgery and have Meritain Healthlink insurance (Egyptian Area Trust).  I am a teacher in Southern Ilinois and Dr. Van Wagner is my surgeon.  Does anyone out there have this insurance?  What were your experiences with getting approved ,and how long does it take?  I have taken all the steps and my doctor is getting ready to submit.  I would appriciate any advise or help from anyone who has the same insurance as I do. Thank you

we have meritain but not healthlink. I have been denied twice the first because I did not do everything they wanted but heres the catch I did everything they told me about submitted, denied and was given a another list with a bunch of new stuff to do. I completed the second list but was denied because my doctor did provide enough detial in his notes for my six month diet. I not sure what my next step is I thinking probably a lawyer. On the other hand my wife submitted and was approved the first time. her doctor provided excellent progress notes on the 6 month diet and she completed everything that was on both list.  they required 6 month supervised diet sleep study cardac clearance thyroid work up physc eval co-mordidities bmi if 40 or higher 35 with co-morbidities   I can't remember anything else right now. good luck did deep for what they require and give them it and you will get approved.

Just a quick check did you manage to get approval. I was finally approved but I had to get my benefits manager involved and my doctor ended up writing a rather nasty note chewing out the insurance company for questioning his professional ability and knowledge. I had my rny on 8/5/08 my wife had hers on 7/9/08 she is doing really well and is healing much faster then I am that is the advantage of the lap. Good luck and I hope everything is/went going well for you.