Question:
How can I assist/help my Dr's office with insurance approval

I had my first consultation on 12/4 which went very well. The dr advised that it takes 2 week for insurance approval and if I hadn't heard anything by then to call. Well it's been almost 2 weeks on Monday and they haven't even submitted my paperwork yet. I called on Wednesday to get an update and come to find out they had my paperwork in the wrong stack and thought everything had already been completed, one of the staff members, which she was a very nice lady, said she would work on it Thursday (today). I know I am not their only patient and they are probably busy, but I am getting tired of waiting. My insurance is BC/BS Federal and I need preauthorization for the hosptial stay, since a change in the policy, BC/BS Federal no longer preauthorize surgeries before hand. Does anyone have any advice on how I can help push/speed things up at the doctors office or is this something I'll just have to wait out until they get it done..    — s r B. (posted on December 14, 2000)

December 15, 2000
I called my ins co regularly to find out how things were going and I also requested that everything be faxed between surgeon and ins co and vice versa. That seemed to move things along. I would suggest that you ask your doctor to fax everything since they fouled up initially. At least it should get the ball rolling. They can fax things and let the ins co know that they are following up the faxes with snail mail copies of whatever was faxed. Keep on them, but be respectful and calm (even if you don't feel that way!!!) I think it moved everyone along to know that I was calling and checking. Good luck!! --Libby
   — Libby B.

December 15, 2000
I called my ins co regularly to find out how things were going and I also requested that everything be faxed between surgeon and ins co and vice versa. That seemed to move things along. I would suggest that you ask your doctor to fax everything since they fouled up initially. At least it should get the ball rolling. They can fax things and let the ins co know that they are following up the faxes with snail mail copies of whatever was faxed. Keep on them, but be respectful and calm (even if you don't feel that way!!!) I think it moved everyone along to know that I was calling and checking. Good luck!! --Libby
   — Libby B.

December 15, 2000
I also got copies of everything the insurance company wanted (sleep study,psyc eval. letter from my pcp) I gave all this to my surgeon and I faxed it to my insurance company. I had all of this testing done before I went to see the surgeon all he had to do was fax something saying that I fit the medical criteria and request the surgery.
   — MARK N.