Should I give the doctor money to get a date while my insurance plays around?

I am panicked to get a date no later than the end of Feb. because I want at least 4 months to recover before a big trip that I have booked for the end of June. I know that as of 2 weeks ago they were scheduling in ealry Feb. I'm hoping with the holidays there haven't been too many scheduled. I am very frustrated that my insurance appears to be playing games - asking for the psychiatrist's office notes. If I can't get this resolved tomorrow I am thinking of calling the surgeon's office and asking to be switched to self-pay so I can get a date. In the meantime I would continue to work it out with the insurance and pray it will get resolved before surgery so I can go back to insurance paid. I don't have any money laying around but I do have enough credit available on 2 credit cards to cover the cost. The surgeon's office said they do take credit cards. I'm not sure I am ready to self-pay without one heck of a fight but I'm almost thinking if it came to it I would self-pay and appeal or sue after to get reimbursed. If I miss the end of Feb window I would have to wait till Sept or Oct, which I could do, but I so have my heart set on going forward now that I would be very very disappointed having to wait. I was looking forward to the challenge of being 4 months post-op WLS and finding things to eat on a cruise. Should be interesting. At least i can eat shrimp and crab so I'm sure I'll be fine. Would any of you change to self-pay, using credit cards, just to get a date? I'm just frustrated because it's the weekend and I can't find out what BC/BS has up their sleeve. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

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