Insurance Frustrations

Hi all - I'm fairly new to this board and could use some encouragement. My insurance company is Horizon Blue Cross /Blue Shield. In early May I had a consultation with Dr. Kollar and then set about getting all the insurance info together. I did the Psych consult, saw a nutritionist /gastroentrologist , meet with my PCP and all of these people wrote letters on my behalf. I gathered information from a bunch of other sources documenting that I had sleep apnea, asthma, etc. I copied my file from when I tried Phen/Fen and lost 125 pounds....I gained it back of course. I even copied my Weigh****cher books for them. You get the idea. I gave them EVERYTHING they could possible want. I stapled it together according to diagnosis and highlighted important info for them. It was submitted right before Memorial Day. After 2 weeks I would call once or twice a week to see if there was any news. Was there anything they needed....etc....I just imagine it in a big pile of folders on someone's floor in their office. They put a high priority on it. OK it is know 6 weeks I got to letter asking the surgeon if the procedure is long limb or short limbed and how long. His office had already given them all that info but did again this week. My summer is kind of on hold. I'm a teacher and off and would LOVE to have it when I'm not in school. I have family members waiting to see if we are going to Florida or not in August. (I haven't even bought the plane tickets.) My doctor says if he gets the approval he will get me in but I am just worrying that they will say no after 2 months of waiting. Why do some people get approved in 2 weeks and others it takes forever? Did I give them too much information? I know a lot of people have had it worse and have waited years - I'm just scared this will never happen and a bit scared that it will! Thanks for "listening " Carol

Well I can't really help you myself as I had different insurance but I did just go to my surgeons websight and checked out insurance. (go to my profile and click on my surgeon and then on the left, click on insurance, scroll down and you will find Horizon). There you will see what many people have said about dealing with Horizon BC/BS. Maybe that will give you some insight. Seems to me that the doctors office handled it for them. Why did you submit all the info yourself?

Jean - Thanks for trying to help. I didn't submitt the information for the insurance company myself - I gathered all the paperwork and then the surgeons office submitted it. I was just wondering if this is a long time to wait or normal. Carol

Hi Carol, I also have NJ BCBS as well. I had my surgery 7-12-04, the doctor's office did everything for me I did not have to deal with them what so ever. I don't remember how long it took to get approved. Keep the faith you should have no problem getting approved. I would keep calling the doctors every so often to see if they heard anything, just so you know there keeping up with the insurance company. Best of luck. Sherry 272/154