Question:
How long for approval and what tools to buy for preperation

I was just wondering about how long does it take for the insurance company to approve you for surgery. I have finished everything and the doctor said they would submit everything on the 16th of Dec. I haven't heard anything yet. Should I call the doctor or the insurance company? Also, I wanted to know what things might be helpful to buy to have on hand for my success? Thank you all. I am getting anxious    — Hilkerrt (posted on January 3, 2010)

January 3, 2010
first congrats it just depends sounds like u are on the right track. and yes just call the doc office i heard pillow,slippers good luck i know scared and anxious huh i know the feeling
   — bage09

January 3, 2010
it should only take 3-4 weeks from the time paper work is submitted. Remember that the Holidays may have it take 4-5 weeks. Make sure you have all the food that you would need at least for the first week. Broth (chicken/beef), water, SF popsicles and DF coffee. Make sure to get the presciptions filled before you go the the hospital. I completly understand. I was the same way
   — kwatkins

January 3, 2010
Dawn, I would call the Dr's office first and find out exactly when they submitted it, at the same time, ask them with your insurance company... what is the average time it takes to get a response. I have Triwest, it took 2 weeks for the dr's office to submit and less than 3 working days to respond.
   — Kathleen O.

January 3, 2010
Hi Dawn, Congrats of getting the paper work in. I am Canadian and I am covered under our provincial health care system. My doctor did all the paperwork and I just had to registar online with my sergeon in the USA. I had not heard back from the OHIP ( Health care) so I called my doctor's offce to find that she had been swamped with paperwork and had forgotten to fax it off. When she dd later that day I got a reply 2 weeks to the day (Working days). THen I just needed to let the surgeon know that I was approved and they gave me an appointment to go and meet the sergeon for a consult and a surgical date.
   — OntarioSilk

January 4, 2010
Well, I guess it depends on your insurance. It took a week for me to get approved. I also called the insurance company like every other day, too...I was anxious, lol. My surgery is at the end of the month, so I'm not sure what to tell you about the items to have on hand...but Good Luck!!!
   — honeybare

January 4, 2010
Hi Dawn... As far as tools for success... I would definitely get the book "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach. She is a post-op RNY patient who saw a need for quality information and products, and now owns her own bariatric supply company called BariatricEating. Her book is a combination of things, excerpts from her own "before and after surgery journal" and a chapter on actual questions that she got internationally-known surgeons to answer for the book, and information on what to have on hand, what to expect when you go to the hospital and when you get home, and the last half of the book is dedicated to wonderful recipes that you can cook for your family that are alright for you to eat, too (and it includes nutritional information for your portion as well). You can order her book and see what kinds of products she offers, as well as sign up for informational forums and emails at BariatricEating.com (it's free). Aside from that, I would log on to and register for another free website called SparkPeople.com - it's the most incredible place to log your food, your exercise, read health articles, journal, have your own blog, make your own homepage, make friends (similar to a Facebook-type of thing), earn points for each thing you do on the website... it's addicting. I could spend hours there.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

January 6, 2010
Of course all insurance companies are different. But it could take any time from 1 week to a couple of months for approval. If you can't stand the wait, call the insurance company and/or bariatric office and tell them when your paperwork was submitted and you are just calling to find out the status. Otherwise, the doctor that is doing the surgery will contact you and you will also receive a letter in the mail. It really isn't necessary to have anything on hand right now. Your bariatric surgeon will let you know what you will need to have.
   — Kristy