Timing of Approval and what not

So I have my 6 month completion date circled in my big ships of the navy calendar (scuse the golden girl quote)
Jan 26 will be my last appt and the completion of the 6 month diet.

Here's my question.  How long did it take until you got a surgery date from the date of completion.
I plan to have my appt with the Surgeon in the first available slot for Jan.  That gives me almost 4 weeks to get that done as well as they psych/exercise/nutritionist appt.

Is 4 weeks enough time?  Should I really consider doing the surgeon appt earlier?
Honestly I want the bulk of all costs to hit in 2009 so I'm only looking at a total Out of Pocket of 3k.

Anyone want to share some insight on this?  Tips? Do I have high hopes?  I've heard mix answers.

I have Cigna Insurance and plan to have Dr Trivedi do the surgery

Since so much of the timing of things depends on how your surgeon's office does things, I would call and ask the coordinator there whether this is realistic.  Based on my experience with my own surgeon it would be.  If there is no restriction on WHEN during the 6 month diet you can do the psych eval, etc., have you considered moving all the appointments with the surgeon and the dietician and psych into December instead (so the costs will hit in 2008)?  (My insurance did not care WHEN I had those things done, so they were all done before my supervised diet was complete... and once I had completed my last dr. appt after the diet was complete, we submitted to insurance for approval.)

Lora

my bad.. I meant 2009.. i want them to hit in 2009

I had my last six-month appt on Friday, July 11th.  All the stuff was faxed over the Insurance on Wednesday, July 17th, I had my approval on Wednesday, July 24th, and my surgery is Tuesday, August 19th.  It all progressed very nicely after everything went right this time around.

I agree with Lora.  See if you can get your appts in before your six months is up.  I had mine way back in November 07 and they were still acceptable.  Make sure to check with Dr. Trivedi's office to see that the follow the same rule.  Anyways, with Dr Rita all of my appts (psych, nut, etc) were all-inclusive with the cost of the surgery, so you may not even have to pay anything for them now anyhow.  Something else to check in to. 

Hope to see you at Sycamore tonight if you are able to make it.

I am with Dr schumacher and did all my evals and testing 2 months before approval. I think they are the best office out there ass we all do of our Dr's. You should call up Nicole and tell her and she will take care of you I am certain. Good luck!

I am planning on being there tonight!

hopefully I can get all of it done in that last month... I just don't want to run into the whole denial approval game that I keep hearing about