How long is this process &

I have sent off my paper work and it's been approx. 5 weeks now and I've heard nothing. How long does this process take and what should I do to speed things up? And my second question is that I have recently been having what seems to be gall bladder attacks or pancreaes attacks and I will be scheduling surgery for this soon. How will this affect my Lap band surgery as far as putting it off or causing problems? Thanks for all the help...also why aren't their more profile pictures of people who have had the lap band surgery??? I'd like to see more pictures of before and after from this type of surgery. Is it because it is a fairly new type of proceedure that is done? Thanks again, God Bless all of you. Sue

Sue, Five weeks is a long time to wait on approval from an insurance company. Who is your doctor and have you called the insurance company yet? I did not have the band so I know nothing about the why's of the pictures there. Sorry I couldn't help you. Anne

Thank you Anne for your response , I am going through Centinnel Medical Center and they are processing my paper work for me. I choose a doctor but they don't even set me up with appt. until I'm approved or at least that's the way I understand it. I emailed the rep. tonight so hopefully she will get back in touch with me to let me know what the hold up is. Thanks to you again for your help. And if there is not a certain site set up for Lap Banders to post their before and after pictures then maybe someone would like to start one. I think it helps all of us to be able to go to profiles of the post op people who have had the surgery's of our choice and see pic's and also their journey along the way. God Bless all of you. Sue

Sue, I attended seminar in May and rec'vd my approval in August. Sometimes it takes a while. I would check with my doctor's office and call the insurance once in a while. I tried to be patient, but by August, I was fed up. I called the insurance and at the same time my doctor's office was on the phone with them. I think they got the picture. I was very fortunate and got approval on the first try. I am having lap band also and would like to see a Tennessee lap band message board. It seems most people here have the RNY. Anyway hope this helps. Michelle

Sue, Call the number on the back of your insurance card and find out from them what the status is on your approval request for the surgery. If they say they don't see it ask to talk to a supervisor and ask them to dig into it. If they say it is awaiting approval then call them back every day and keep asking for the status. You know the old term "the sqeaky wheel gets the grease"? They will eventually get so sick of hearing from you they will pu**** to get an answer. If it is not a favorable answer then you make sure you appeal and don't give up, because that is exactly what insurance wants you to do. It took me 2 appeals and a total of 6 months to be approved but it finally happened. Good luck to you. Greg

I too went through Cenntenial Medical Center. I called them several times to make sure when the paperwork went to the insurance. Then I waited a few days and called the insurance several times until they acknowledge receipt of the request. Then I called them once per week to find out the status. They had a mothly review board meeting, so it took them almost exactly a month to approve my surgery. You are correct in that you don't see the surgeon there until you are approved. Good luck on your process. Get on the phone and stay after them to get your approval!!! Jules