Question:
How long from Insurance Approval to WLS?

Can anyone tell me generally what the timeline looks like. If my insurance approves the surgery, generally how long does it take to get all the steps of the process completed and have the surgery? Of course the quicker the better!    — Amanda R. (posted on April 16, 2002)

April 16, 2002
Hi. It ofcourse depends on your surgeon, all places are different. I am scheduled for LAP RNY on May 24. They give you a date for surgery the same day they send your info to insurance, and I just got my date like a week ago. SO, for me personally, it will only have taken 6 weeks. My surgeon also said that I shouldn't have a problem with insurance cuz i have AETNA and I have done a million diets. It also depends on your surgeon and how many peopkle he is working with, mine has been doing this for a year, where as 2 other surgeons at the same obesity clinic have been performing it for 2 years, and have a longer patient wait. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

April 16, 2002
It really does depend on your surgeon and your insurance company. I had my initial consultation with the doctor on Feb. 20. I was approved by my insurance on Feb. 28, and on Mar. 18, the doctor's office called me telling me I could schedule my surgery date. I scheduled it for May 7 (for work reasons), but I could have had it sooner than that. At the initial consultation, the doctor's assistant told us (a group of approx. 40 people) that half of us will fight with our insurance companies for 6 months or longer. I didn't fight with mine at all, but I have United Healthcare, which is EXCELLENT! Good luck!
   — Kristie B.

April 16, 2002
As the previous two posters stated, it depends on your surgeons schedule. I did my first consult Sept. 14th last year. Was approved by my insurance company October 30th and I suspect it would have been much sooner, but my surgeons office was backlogged with other paperwork and didn't get the request sent in until mid-October. I had my surgery November 5th. I had a mad scramble to get all of my pre-op testing done and make personal arrangments in such a short time frame. But, it kept my mind off of all the worries that pre-ops have about complications, so it all worked in my favor.
   — Susan M.

April 16, 2002
Submitted Nov. 19, 2001 first denial March 15, 2002---took daily calls to the insurance company and repeated faxes --I am fighting this for approval at this moment--3rd level review in progress---I have already contacted Obesity Law
   — Linda L.

April 16, 2002
I was approved after four weeks total with Aetna (ppo). MY advice to all (from personal experience) is to call every single day to make sure your information has been received by the CORRECT department. After, that call and check in it again. After 1-2 weeks, I called each and every day to see what stage my application was in. I was approved the first time. Any questions, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] GOOD LUCK! Lisa :-)
   — Pizofret

April 16, 2002
It totally depends on your insurance and doctor's office...I was approved for surgery AT my initial consultation (much to my surprise), and could have been scheduled within 2-3 weeks. However, for family reasons I chose not to be scheduled until 2 1/2 months later...I will have an open RNY on June 20. I consider myself very lucky to have United Healthcare Choice Plus of FL...after reading some of the problems other posters have had with other insurance co. :)
   — MaryBeth R.