Am I really being that unreasonable?

My insurance requires me to do a three month diet and have a psych eval for approval...that's it.


So, I called to make an appointment.  I was told I must go to a seminar and take my insurance information so that coverage could be verified even though I already knew I was covered.  So, I went to the doctor's required seminar in early Sept and of course did not hear anything I had not already learned on OH.  A few weeks later, I receive a letter congratulating me that my insurance covered WLS and asking me to call and schedule an appointment.  So, I called and called and called.  For three weeks I left a weekly voicmail.  Finlay, the coordinator Finlay answered her line and of course had a story about how she had been out the previous week with the flu...no mention of the other two weeks that the calls were not returned. So, my first appointment was delayed until the end of Nov. 

So, the end of Jan rolls around and I go for what I thought was my last presubmition visit but, the nut insisted we had to meet once more.  So I wait one more month. Go in for the "last" visit.  I am called up the front counter and told  we don't need to meet after all.  We could have and should have submitted after my previous visit like I had thought.  So, deep breathing and counting till ten I walk back to my car for the hour drive back home.  I stop in the car to call the insurance coordinator to make sure I have everything else done.  I get her voice mail which requested I leave one message ("multiple messages were not necessary") and she would get back to me.  So, one week later, I call and apologize for leaving a "multiple message" but remind her that I have still not heard from her.  Two more days go by and still no response....so, I call and complain.  I am directed to the office manager...and sent to ....you guessed it her voice mail. ...and surprise two days go by before she returns my call....


So, the office manager Finlay calls to explain that the insurance coordinator's father had a heart attack and was going to have a quad bypass the following day (keep in mind this is over two weeks after my original call to the insurance coordinator)...and the insurance coordinator would try to come in just to submit my paperwork the next  day and I should expect a call from her.  NO call....so, I call the office today and I am told she has still not returned and is not expected to this week...and once again sent to the office manager's voice mail.  And surprise no return call.


So, one one hand my mom had a heart attack and by\pass when I was 19 and I remember how frightening that was.  So, I want to be understanding ...but...On the other hand my mom was 40 when she had her heart attack and was much less obese than I am and did not have diabetes the way I do AND I am turning 39 next week.  I feel like I have a time bomb inside me.  I know surgery will not keep me from having a heart attack but I hope it will make it possible for me to survive it. 

At this point if the Insurance coordinator had not caused any delays with her health and family issues I would have been 6 weeks further in this journey and if the nut had also not caused another delay I would be 10 weeks further in this journey.  So, I am SO Frustrated!!!!!   I just do not know what to do....I have tried complaining...and I am now concerned that the quality of care I receive will not be the best.


Am I really that horrible for being mad and scared?

No...you are only human.

I'm sorry I cant be much help with your situation but you can vent anytime.

{{HUGS}}
Tressa

I agree with Nessa you're being human.  I would like to offer you a suggestion. Use this time to start preparing your mind and body for the change you WILL be going through soon.  I had to wait almost a year to get ok'd.  I have great insurance and was told as long as I jump through their hoops I'll be approved, and it was true.  So I started to teach myself how to eat, smaller and healthier portions. I beleive this has helped me with the success I've had with my surgery.  You WILL be better prepared for your new life than had you been approved right away. And MsFrogDr this just might KEEP you for having a heart attack,  just because your mom did does not mean you will. DH mom had Three bypasses before she was 50 NONE of her THREE children have even had ONE.  I would be PISSED OFF if I was dealing with what you are my friend, so does that make us both horrible?? I don't think so. When SH***Y stuff happens to me I try to give myself a certain amount of time to be PO'd then I try to move forward, of course we all know that ain't always easy.

We are here.

I think you are absolutely mad and scared.  I remember it so well because I had the worst insurance on earth.  They even called and told me I was approved and I was bouncing off the walls but when I called my doc's office I was told I needed a "certified number".  I called back and after several calls I finally got a person and she tells me that it was a mistake.  I thought I would die.  I asked, cried, begged! How can this be and how can they be so laid back about the reaction of "oops, sorry"?   I think it was a few weeks later that I finally got the call and found out it was truly real.  I know I had to be a freakin' mess during the time in between calls so I REALLY can relate. 

You are doing everything you need to and don't let that multiple call thing hold you back.  I think you were perfect by saying "Sorry about the multiple call but...."  That's the best way to handle it because they are all over worked people and can certainly miss stuff.  No shame girlfriend, you are exactly right and I'm just hoping this is over for you ASAP.  Poor Suzy is struggling too.  Under the thread "denied" is what's going on with her.  I want to wrap my arms around both of you!
hugs, Y

OH my gosh - no, you are not horrible AT ALL.  I mean - they should at least have someone else in the office that can handle this stuff for times that she cannot.  That's ridiculous.  That's so frustrating for you. 

I hope they get their act together soon and get this show on the road!!!!!

Suzy

Ok...... so I have to put my two cents in... First of all, you are not horrible at all.  It is unhealthy being obese.  That is why we have WLS in the first place.  With your mother's history, I can see why you are scared.

I had the same problem with my physician's office when I started trying to have my surgery.  In my experience, if you have a hard time reaching the staff BEFORE surgery, you will have a hard time reaching them afterwords.  I ended up changing physicians after surgery.  I would not give up on them yet.  You still have more to do before you have surgery.  If this is TRUELY the only reason that you haven't been contacted, you will see changes before surgery.  I was told once that the office puts you through a lot before surgery to make sure that you really want it.  If you want it, you will work for it.  I don't know if that is true or not, but it IS frustrating.

I do understand the requirement for the seminar beforehand.  While YOU already had done your research, and knew everything that they said, MANY don't.  There is no way for them to decipher.  You would be amazed how many people jump into WLS.  You wouldn't want a surgeon to cut on you that didn't make sure that you were ready for it. 

I hope that things get better.  Good Luck.

-Kim T

Yep Kim, you nailed that one on the head about how many go in without knowing anything.  I call it the deer in the headlights pre-op that hears nothing but "when will I have surgery???".  There is no way for them to know who has done homework and who hasn't and it's their way of trying to educate the patient.  My surgery was so long ago that I just made an appointment for a consultation with the doc and went for it!  There were no seminars, no after care, nothing! Things have changed so much but there is still so much to be done.  Thanks for helping her out.
hugs, Y

Im so sorry your having all this trouble..it makes my heart hurt for you :( I think you have every right to be mad and scared and whatever else your feeling at this time. I did not have trouble with my insurance so I cannot relate to how your feeling. But I can tell you that when all this mess gets sorted out and you do get to have your surgery, you will see how worth it all this hassle was. At least you are not throwing in the towel and staying in your rut. You are pushing on and standing strong... that is something you should be very proud of. Keep your chin up and I will pray that all turns around for you very soon..Hugs..Katie