Question:
How long do appeals take?

I submiited to them on oct 12..they denied me on oct 15...we resubmittedon the 19th...they said it would be a 30 day turnaround..told me to call back before thanksgiving holidays..of course i called them everyday...now they are saying the first of dec...why is it taking them so long to let me know if my appeal is approved or denied?? Is it a good thing they are taking so long?? I feel like i am going crazy here..    — tylerswife (posted on November 22, 2001)

November 22, 2001
All I can say to you is hang in there!! Make your insurs. pay if at all possible, don't stop bothering them, My insur. is pulling the same stuff I'm also waiting to hear about my appeal letter, so you are definetly not along. I think alot of us who are pre-op live every day with that thought in the back of our minds, is today the day we hear we've get aproved or not ....So good luck!!
   — Rho

November 22, 2001
Hi Rebecca. I was denied the first time also. I received the denial letter on August 22nd of this year and sent in my appeal on Aug 27th. I also called several times and made sure each of my doctors called the medical director who made the decision. I received word of my approval on Sep. 10th and received the letter on Sep. 13th. I have QualChoice of Virginia. Every insurance is different. All you can do is wait and keep hounding them and be assertive. YOU do all the follow-up you can. I made a pest of myself. :oP Good luck to you and I hope you get your approval soon. Have faith, I did and my surgery is November 26th. :oP
   — Lisa W.

November 22, 2001
What is your BMI/co-morbids? Aretna is one of the few insurances that GENERALLY cover WLS. Ihave Aetna HMO and was approved in 1 day, however, I had all documents I thot' I'd need, such as supervised diets,diet history, co-morbid, names of current drugs etc. My surgeon's office asked for all this, because they said sometimes Aetna will kick it back saying it's incomplete. And better to send it all than re-submit a denial. Good Luck
   — Cindee A.