Question:
A Couple of questions regarding surgery at BTC!

Hi everyone... I will know tomorrow whether I get insurance approval or not and I just have a couple of questions. 1. Does BTC in MI have private rooms? If so are they extra etc.? 2. How long does it take after approval to get a surgery date? And can I get one sooner given the fact that my insurance sat on someone's desk for two weeks, even though it was all complete and thorough? Read my profile for info on that. I'm still fuming! :) 3. Is there a detailed description on anyone's profile of surgery? I've read a lot, but I would really like a BTC specific one, telling me everything from what they injected and when what they do while your in the hospital and all that? If anyone could point me in the right direction, that would be great! Thanks for your help!    — Deborah W. (posted on September 18, 2001)

September 18, 2001
I had surgery at BTC/Ypsilanti,MI in November 2000. My file also laid on a desk for sev weeks and was approved through BC Nov 8. I called BTC found it was approved and within 2 hours had a surgery date of 11/17 because I was persistent. BUT BEWARE! BTC is NOT an in-network BCBS facility!!!! If you have BCBS see if they will waive the 15% sanction fee (mine was $3,175) with a primary PPO in-network physician referral. Mine would have been waived BUT BTC never told me they weren't in the network and my family doctor accepted PPO but wasn't in the network. Because of this I am stuck owing $3,175 !!!!!
   — Debbie A.

September 18, 2001
i didn't go to the btc in mi. but the one in columbus. but i have a good friend having surgery at btc mi. in the morning and we have compared things between the 2 centers. they have 2 people per room, unless you are having surgery on a friday. the reason was that they put a new patient in with someone who had surgery a day before. so if you have surgery on a thursday you'll get a roommate that had surgery on friday, so since they don't do surgery on saturday, i had no one in there with me. the only difference we can tell so far is that she has to use a suppository (sp?) tonight, i didn't have to do that. another thing, they have a central schedular at their corporate office, she does all the scheduling, at least thats what i'm told. i am a little over 3 mo. post-op, was approved on 4-12 (they had the letter in there hand) didn't schedule surgery until 5-1, i could have had it as soon as 6-1, but because of work commitments i choose 6-8. my friend whos going to mi. btc waited almost 5 weeks to get a date, (they didn't have the formal letter from insurance yet) and scheduled her 2 1/2 months away to begin with but she lucked out, got a call with a cancalation and was moved up a month. so really its going to vary. they told me 2 weeks from hearing from them is the normal amount of time, i starting bugging them after the 2 week period was up! it worked! if you want to know anything email me, i'll be glad to answer any questions about btc, and by friday i should know alot more about the one in mi. cause i plan on visiting my friend friday. good luck
   — Andrea T.

September 18, 2001
I had my surgery in Belvidere. I did have a private room. Just was assigned one. I received my approval letter in April was called for a date on May 15th. I could have had a date in June, but since I was going on vacation I opted to wait. Had my surgery on July 25th.
   — Judy K.