Waiting and Waiting and Waiting !!!!!

I started the whole process back in March 2003 with my Doctor Molave Adaniels. I went to all the doctors and had all the tests including the 2 nutritionists visits required prior to surgery and was done with all the testing by the end of May early June. I was told all the paper work was submitted and I was waiting for Insurance approval (United Healthcare). After 2 Months and hearing nothing but we are still waiting for approval I called the Insurance Company myself. To my disbelief they had no paper work ! They called Beech Street and had nothing ! Turns out Doctor Adaniels person who handles the paperwork sent it to United Health Care at an address other than the required Beech Street Central Approval Location. The person at United Health Care was very helpful and started a file and called Dr.Adaniels office and straightened everything out. I was told I may here something as early as Tuesday after Labor Day. The moral of this story is you have to keep on top of things yourself ! I think the popularity of the surgery is overwelming all the employees at many doctors offices and unfortunately the patients keep waiting. I am not saying the doctors office does not know what they are doing , they are wonderful there, but along the way there seems to be a lapse in standard procedure where to send paperwork. Anyway hopefully everthing goes well and I will have a surgery date soon. Remember do some leg work yourself if things seem to be going slow.

Hi my name is Teresa Sewell, I need to know which type of United Healthcare insurance you have I am employed with BellSouth in Birmingham, Ala. I have United Healthcare EPO (BellSouth) I have been told that they will not cover the cost of WLS surgery. I have a consultation with Dr. Andrew DeWitt in Oct. I have extremely high blood pressure problems and have had them for some time, no b/p medications seems to be working, I had a appt. with my cardiologist last week and he told me to lose the weight quickly or run the risk of having a stroke at anytime (heart problems runs on both sides of my family) I have thought about getting my cardiologist to write to United Healthcare and let them know about my blood pressure problems and the necessity that I lose the weight quickly. If you could let me know what type of insurance you have I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks Teresa