Got THE Date
Hello Everyone,
This is my first time posting on the Message Board, but I have been visiting and lurking around this site for several years.
I have been looking into getting the WLS for about five years now, my original surgery type choice was RNY and since my insurance did not cover the procedure I was going to be a self pay in Mexico.
Last year my employer switched to BCBS of IL and of course right away I inquired about the WLS surgery coverage, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that it's covered. I have located a specialist right in my neighborhood and scheduled a visit. I attended the orientation and decided to change my surgery type to VSG. I think this is the best choice for me since it will leave my intestines intact and the problem of malabsorbtion goes away.
In September of last year I started my required pre-op testing:
3 months of supervised diet (went to see a nutritionist once a month for three months)
Upper GI tract x-ray
Psychological consultation (took about 20min total)
I went to the surgeon office at the end of February (waited so long because they claimed they did not receive any of my test results) and all was good, they were sending the file for authorization to perform surgery. I had two more additional test do do, these were only for the benefit of the surgeon and were not submitted to insurance. I had to do a blood test at my PCP and an ultrasound of the gallbladder which was done at the surgeon's office.
And then the wait begun.
I called the surgeons office every week for updates, the only answer I got was "We're still waiting for the approval". Finally at week three I got fed up with waiting and decided to find out what's going on on my own. I called the insurance direct, they said that the authorization does not actually come from them, but from my designated medical group (HMO). I tried calling there several times, but no one was picking up. I finally got thru last Wednesday and mystery solved, they showed no record of the request in the system and the request should have actually come from my PCP not the surgeon (I guess I just assumed the surgeon will be sending it in). I called my PCP, they gave me the run around when I asked for the specific date when the request was submitted, but said that I will have the answer the following day. I was going to raise hell if they did not have the answer by next day, but when I called in the afternoon they said I was APPROVED!!
I called the coordinator at the surgeons office today and my surgery day is April 19Th. I am going into the surgeons office this Friday, the 6Th, to sign the release forms and for some final instructions.
I apologize for the long post, but I am so happy and still in shock that what I have been thinking (fantasizing) about is finally going to happen. I just wanted to share my experience so far, I know that there is a lot of you here who are somewhere on the road to WLS, I hope my post will give someone a little hope that the dream can come true for you as well.
Izabella
This is my first time posting on the Message Board, but I have been visiting and lurking around this site for several years.
I have been looking into getting the WLS for about five years now, my original surgery type choice was RNY and since my insurance did not cover the procedure I was going to be a self pay in Mexico.
Last year my employer switched to BCBS of IL and of course right away I inquired about the WLS surgery coverage, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that it's covered. I have located a specialist right in my neighborhood and scheduled a visit. I attended the orientation and decided to change my surgery type to VSG. I think this is the best choice for me since it will leave my intestines intact and the problem of malabsorbtion goes away.
In September of last year I started my required pre-op testing:
3 months of supervised diet (went to see a nutritionist once a month for three months)
Upper GI tract x-ray
Psychological consultation (took about 20min total)
I went to the surgeon office at the end of February (waited so long because they claimed they did not receive any of my test results) and all was good, they were sending the file for authorization to perform surgery. I had two more additional test do do, these were only for the benefit of the surgeon and were not submitted to insurance. I had to do a blood test at my PCP and an ultrasound of the gallbladder which was done at the surgeon's office.
And then the wait begun.
I called the surgeons office every week for updates, the only answer I got was "We're still waiting for the approval". Finally at week three I got fed up with waiting and decided to find out what's going on on my own. I called the insurance direct, they said that the authorization does not actually come from them, but from my designated medical group (HMO). I tried calling there several times, but no one was picking up. I finally got thru last Wednesday and mystery solved, they showed no record of the request in the system and the request should have actually come from my PCP not the surgeon (I guess I just assumed the surgeon will be sending it in). I called my PCP, they gave me the run around when I asked for the specific date when the request was submitted, but said that I will have the answer the following day. I was going to raise hell if they did not have the answer by next day, but when I called in the afternoon they said I was APPROVED!!
I called the coordinator at the surgeons office today and my surgery day is April 19Th. I am going into the surgeons office this Friday, the 6Th, to sign the release forms and for some final instructions.
I apologize for the long post, but I am so happy and still in shock that what I have been thinking (fantasizing) about is finally going to happen. I just wanted to share my experience so far, I know that there is a lot of you here who are somewhere on the road to WLS, I hope my post will give someone a little hope that the dream can come true for you as well.
Izabella
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"to talk of many things,
of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
of cabbages and kings,
and why the sea is boiling hot,
and whether pigs have wings"
and Izabellars got her surgery date,
and that is why she sings!
Apologies to Lewis Carroll
"to talk of many things,
of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
of cabbages and kings,
and why the sea is boiling hot,
and whether pigs have wings"
and Izabellars got her surgery date,
and that is why she sings!
Apologies to Lewis Carroll
If it feels good, do it! And if it smells good, eat it!
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