Question:
Post Surgrical Insurance Denial Federal BCBS

Has any one with Federal BCBS been turned down after surgery?    — patty S. (posted on July 27, 2002)

July 27, 2002
Patty, Two WLS surgeries in same family neither denied. The book BCBS sends every year says specifically that if you are at least 100 lbs overweight you are approved for surgery. Drs. who aren't used to dealing with them may have fits because BCBS WILL NOT send letters of pre-approval, but our Dr. was fine with it. BSBC tried not to pay the anesthesiologist, but we just quoted their booklet and they paid. Good luck.
   — Janis D.

July 27, 2002
No trouble at all with payment. BC/BS FEP paid for my VBG in 2001 and my Plastic Surgery tummy stuff in 2002.....
   — Cathy J.

July 28, 2002
I have Federal BC/BS in Alabama and they paid for my surgery with no problems (mine was paid at 90%). I also had a 10 day hospital stay with a second surgery and ICU time due to a leak - this was paid completely with only a $100 deductible. Since I would have had to pay for a hospital stay anyway, I came out owing nothing extra than if I'd had no complications. I didn't have to do anything, everything was filed for me. My surgery was 5/21/02. Good luck!
   — sheltie

July 28, 2002
I have BCBS Fed and had no problems. They paid most of the costs except for the $100 hospital costs and the $2000 i had to pay to the surgeon to supplement what BCBS didn't pay (they don't pay the surgeons enough). They don't send a pre-approval letter but their policy says they will cover. Have you had problems with BCBS? Were you denied or are you just checking this out before applying? if you were denied, call to find out why...
   — Cindy R.