Question:
Timeline: Insurance Approval to Surgery.. how long?

I got insurance approval for surgery on February 21st and as of March 7th, I am still waiting on my surgery date. The nurse called last Friday and asked me if April 8th would be okay with me and then a week later when I called her, she told me that the date was no good. It felt like she did not even plan to call me. My insurance approved me in 10 days and I have been waiting 2 weeks for a date, I AM GOING CRAZY!!!! HELP ME.    — Melanie S. (posted on March 7, 2003)

March 7, 2003
I waited for 2 months EXACTLY to hear from my insurance. I phoned them every other day. It was agonizing. Then, when they called to inform me of approval, they gave me a surgery date less than 2 weeks away. I had to scramble to get everything in order. I think each office if just different. It depends on your location (are many of the surgery dates taken?) and the attentivness of your nurse/scheduler. Good luck. I'll say a prayer for you.
   — Babs B.

March 7, 2003
That unfortunately all depends on your surgeon. And every surgeon and office does it differently. I was happy with mine- they plan a date before you even get approval. So once you are approved, it's only a few weeks till surgery, and if you get denied, they just pick another date for you. Just keep on their office about it, don't let them forget about you, but ofcourse do it in a calm, nice way! Goodluck to you and congrats on getting approved!
   — Lezlie Y.

March 8, 2003
Hi, I was scheduled before the approval process for April l4th. They called my insurance company BC/BS of Illinois on Thursday , March 6th and the insurance company called me on Friday, March 7th and said I was approved for the surgery. Every insurance company is different in the way they do things. You need to call and keep calling . Best of luck to you.
   — Maureen M.

March 8, 2003
I got lucky. Insurance approved (with exclusion) 2-14-03---Surgery 2-25-03.
   — Meg L.

March 13, 2003
hi i would say it depends on the office everyone does things different. i was approved in january 2002 the end of mo they were going to sched me for july i asked to be put on a waiting list for earlier time they moved it up to june than april than had to go back to may so i had surgery may 3 2002 and it was the best thing i could of ever done down 109lbs and i feel great and all my medical promblems are gone so good luck to you.
   — ROSEMARY A.

March 20, 2003
I am the original poster and just wanted to let y'all know that I am having surgery on April 22nd. Thanks for the answers.
   — Melanie S.