No Answer yet

Hello all, Well I guess I am pushing it as of last tues. the WLS Dr sent off paper work to insurance, I called today but gal said she seen nothing as of yet. Well when it is approved by insurance how long till surgery date? Just getting a bit anxious I guess. I have Dr. Garcia in Fargo. I have every thing else done. Thanks all Loretta 

Hi Loretta:  the day the office told me they faxed it to BCBS MN, it showed up as received at the insurance about 2 days later, and I got a response 7 or 8 days after they got it. Could you call the insurance person for Garcia and politely ask her to fax it again since it is not showing up? good luck, judi

Hi Judy, Thanks for the words of encouragement. I think I am going to try to call the insurance again tomorrow, it will be seven business days,. I have the right to call to check. Thanks. Loretta

Hi What they typically say at the Support Group meetings is that it is about two months from the approval date to the date of surgery. That being said, that was true for me.  My approval date was April 23rd, which is the same day they scheduled my surgery (July 2nd).  My neighbor is also having surgery, same doctor as me (Monson), but she just got her approval last week, and she could have had surgery July 2nd.  So, I guess it depends how long it takes from approval time. As far as the insurance, they told me approximately 2 weeks.  Mine was 2 weeks to the day. Good Luck

Dr. Monson's nurse faxed mine in also and they got it that same day.  I'm not sure why Garcia's nurse didn't fax, maybe your insurance required something different?  I am stuck between the 2 Dr.s - Dr. Monson and Dr. Howell.  I will be having Dr. Howell do my surgery but Dr. Monson was going to and it was him that sent in for my approval.  I now have to wait until my appt. with Dr. Howell on 6/28 to make my surgery date, even though I was approved last Friday.  It's nerve racking for me because I'm a para at the local school and really wanted to get this done this summer so I wouldn't miss so much work and had time to heal.  I know that Dr. Howell is booking late July early August right now so by next week I'm sure I'll be in August, which is when school starts.  I tell ya, anyone who says this is the "easy" way out is an uneducated fool...ughh!!  One thought for you is you could call Dr. Garcia's office and just see where he is booking right now to give you a feel for when you can expect to have the surgery?  Also, you can call your insurance and see when their time limit to answer the request is up?  I know Medica had 10 "business" days to answer mine.  Hope this helps...

danni: don't give up hope on july yet. i was told doc howell had one opening left in june when I had to wait a week to get a date and lo and behold, a week later, it was mine! since he has been on vacation he probably hasn't had a lot of info classes to send stuff in. good luck, judi

Hi Jack...lol   Thanks Judi, I'm sure since you and your husband have been to Dr. Howell you know how unflexible they are about doing anything before the consult.  I was just disappointed because somewhere along the line someone in MeritCare land goofed by not putting 2 and 2 together about my previous surgery and Dr. Monson not being able to do this one because of it.  I've already had the "wait" for my consult with one surgeon and now I'm on my second "wait".  I'm trying to understand why they won't let me pick a date but its not really working.  I've had a consult with one surgeon, had my paperwork sent in and approved.  I know I haven't met Dr. Howell yet but I've done all the steps besides that one thing so I would think there could be a "special cir****tance" for someone like me.  Once again it wasn't my fault with all the paperwork and people I have already seen, filled out,  that not one person figured out I couldn't go to Dr. Monson.   I know complaining about it isn't going to get anything done but sometimes its just nice to talk to "complain to" someone that understands what your going through and you've been great about listening     thanks  PS...When I had talked to his nurse right before he went on vacation she had told me they are booking end of July and he had about 12 letters out to insurances for approval- thats 12 people that are ahead of me...whine, whine....lol