Anthem BCBS

I'm posting this with the hope that someone has been through this same situation. I live and work in Chicago, but my parent company's corporate headquarters are in Stamford Conecticut. When I first started looking into this surgery I starting reading the horror stories about BCBS of Illinois insurance. I called our HR contact at my company's corporate headquarters and asked if my plan is considered BCBS of Illinois. She told me no that it is a national plan. On my insurance card it states: "Providers: Please file medical claims with the local BCBS plan in the state where services are rendered." Of course this will be Illinois. The card also shows an address in Louisville, KY. for employee submitted claims. When I went to the surgeon's office last week for my consultation, his assistant that does all of the insurance said Illinois MAY NOT even be the one that reviews my case for approval....but she was not sure who or what state would. She aslo said that BCBS of Illinois has really cracked down on these approvals and that other states are more lenient. I am praying that Illinois will not review my case, however, in the mean time has anyone else been through this or something similiar?

The only issue you need to worry about is whether or not the Insurance plan that you are covered under has WLS as a covered service. If you meet the requirements, and you have documentation to back you up, you will be approved. What specifically, did your doctor's office mean by "Cracking down on?" Call the number on your card, and have them fax you the requirements IN WRITING for bariatric surgery. Keep your chins up! Roberta