Awaiting Insurance Company to Approve Doc to do surgery(Niagara Falls,NY)

Can anyone relate? Awaiting my insurance company Independent Health to approve Dr. Kolli (in Niagara Falls, NY). He has done the number the required and also more since. How long does this process usually take? How long afterwards of my insurance provider approving the surgery? Thanks! Judy D.

Judy- I think its a little different for everyone. It can be so hard waiting I know for me when I met with the surgeon we set the date for six week out but I could have chosen sooner if I wanted to. The office put the request into insurance and within a week I was approved. Some insurances take longer but most have to give you an answer within 30 days. Also as for your surgeon it will depend on his surgery schedule when they will fit you in. SOme surgeons wait until youre approved before putting you "on the books". Hopefully you get the answers you are looking for very soon! Janet

Judy I can certainly relate!! I am also waiting for Independent Health to approve my surgeon, Dr. DiBenedetto in Lockport. He has also done the required number of surgeries and more. They called him almost a month ago and said they would be doing a site visit to Lockport Memorial and as of this past Thursday he has heard nothing more. It is getting so frustrating because I have lost the weight Dr. DiBenedetto requires plus a lot more (75 pounds so far), been to the psychiatrist, nutritionist, had a sonogram of my gallbladder and had my bloodwork done. The only things I have left to do is the pre-op testing and the physical by my PCP before surgery. I have called Independent Health several times but just get a runaround! They tell me there is a number of requirements to be met and this is handled by the certification department and it is confidential. They told me have my surgeon call to get the information. I plan on calling his office again tomorrow to see if they did call. I feel like I am paying good money for this insurance and I meet the requirements for surgery and should be able to have it covered and not get this runaround! I know it is a money issue but they need to consider all the money they are putting out for medications that won't be necessary after I have the surgery! If you hear anything please let me know! I am really going nuts here waiting to have my surgery!!!