I am so Frustrated!!!!!

Hey Fellas, I am ONE week away from my surgery day.  It has been a bumpy road to say the least and I am just beginning to lose my Mind! Insurance Woes: I lost my job in a round of layoffs in the beginning of December.  As a result I unfortunately lost my insurance.  Part of the severance package was that the COBRA was paid for the first three months.  I delayed sending in the check for the COBRA because the paperwork said that I have 90 days to submit payment.  Well, when I went for my pre-op testing last week, the insurance of course came up on the computer as cancelled.  The Hospital then informed me that if it does not say active by next Wednesday (the 16th) they are going to postpone or cancel my surgery.  I overnighted the check and I am hopeful that it will be ok, but I remain doubtful. Pre-op Tests: I had my pre-op tests last Wednesday (the 9th) and they said that everything looked good at that time.  Well, Today, I got a telephone call that the Dr. was looking at my test results and that my blood sugar was 201.  He will not operate unless it shows up under 200.  They suggested calling my PCP and asking for a prescription for a glucho somthin somthin.  I got a call back from his nurse.  He wanted to see me on Wednesday I know that this may seem minor in comparison to some of the other stuff people had to go through to get approved, and have the surgery, I just wanted this last week to be easier as I am rounding the home stretch here. Thanks for letting me vent!

Robert, I'm no doctor, but.... I'm assuming your blood work was after a fasting period.  Might I suggest you do an extended 1-3 day of protein only, no carbs.  That should put you under the limit as you only need a couple of points. Did your surgeon give you a script for the retesting?  I would make sure you get one pronto, then do the diet regimen (it won't be fun on no carbs, but after the first day it'll get better) .Then do a walkup blood test at a hospital that will take the script.   They should be able to give you your results within an hour.  (I just did my final preop testing and within the 45 minute drive home the results were already at my PCP and the phone was ringing) Of course, all of this is predicated on the Cobra BS, but with a little luck, you'll be ok. Good luck with everything. Guy

You sound like one of my Murphy relatives. The laws of Murphy just seem to catch us now and then. I hope they straighten out the insurance stuff and get you in the door. As for the blood sugar, if you do get on a glucose reduction med it should take it down to a healthy level. I use insulin and to be honest it is about the easiest thing to get sugar down and keep it that way for long periods of time. However 201 is now horrible just pretty high up there and you will heal up alot faster with it down in a lower level. My doctor wants my a1c to get down in the 6 range before I go in for the surgery if and when that takes place. Right now Im in the search and discover mode and asking way too many questions it seems. Good luck on getting the surgery and tell the hospital you just gotta get it done. 

I had a glitch in my insurance just one week out, and I freaked, too.  I was all the way there and it looked like I was not gonna make it.   The only thng that kept me sane was simply believing that it would all work out.  It did, but even if it hadn't I had nothing to lose by thinking positive.  DO everything you can to get through the testing, and call your insurance company and/or COBRA rep...don't let up on them.  Since COBRA is a government requirement, find out now who you can consult with (if anyone).  Just don't let the deadlines pass if you can help it. Good luck, CB

Robert, Make sure you call the insurance company everyday once they receive your payment to make sure it gets entered.  If you bother them enough they will probably get you reinstated right then.  After they tell you your in the system again most have an online section where you can verify you are covered.(Some take overnight to upload the data)  I would get online just to make sure.  Always take names of who you talked to for backup.  I have worked for insurance companies for years and I'll agree most are a pain in the **s.  I know it's a lot of work but hey it's your health and life we are talking about here.  Good Luck!!

Thanks Guys for the replies... I really appreciate the suggestions and the words of encouragement.  I have been calling the company that handles the COBRA paperwork and all I can get from them is that they received my payment.  THATS IT!!  I did speak to the Head of HR from the company that I was laid off from and she stepped in and spoke directly to her rep from Blue Cross and hopefully that mess will be cleared up tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed there, please... Now, about my blood sugar.  The nurse told me that I should call my PCP for the Glucose reduction Med.  When I called for that, his nurse called me back and told me that he wanted to see me on Wednesday before giving me a script.  So, I started the No Carb thing and I will fast after dinner tomorrow night up until my appointment at 10:45am so hopefully that will bring my sugar down for that and then again when I check in (I HOPE) to the Barix Clinic on Monday morning. I'll update here when I know more.  Thanks again! Rob

Another thing about COBRA that you don't find out until later:  your COBRA processor may give you a grace period to pay each monthly payment. What they don't tell you is that at the 1st of the month they will mark your policy as cancelled even if you still have your grace period. It makes it a real pain because anything that is billed to insurance bounces back. I make sure to pay my COBRA bill immediately upon receiving the invoice.