Question:
Does it help to bug your insurance comapny to get approved?

MY SURGEANS OFFICE TOLD ME NOT TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THAT THEY WOULD DEAL WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INPUT.    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 26, 2001)

October 26, 2001
Interesting your surgeons told you not to. My husband is an insurance agent and he told me to call them about a week after the mailing to check on things and ask politely if it could be expedited. When I called I was already approved, but he said calling helps. I can only assume your doctor is telling the ins. co. something you don't know about. I would ask them WHY shouldn't you contact them.
   — valerie S.

October 27, 2001
I've worked in health insurance on the claims and sales side for 20 years. CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY!! Any doctor's office who tells you not to bug the insurance company has an incompetent person sending in the information to the insurance company or doesn't want to be bothered by you calling them to check on the status. There are many times when insurance companies need additional information from either you or the doctor and you could answer a question that the insurance company has and keep the process moving. Also, if the insurance company has a question to the doctor, you can follow up with the doctor's office to make sure they have sent in the requested information. Trust me, doctor's office are NOT the best at responding for additional information on a timely basis, especially for a pre-approval.
   — Patty H.

October 27, 2001
Call. I called my insurance company every other day and I think that helped by them getting my answer quickly. I even made sure I knew the names of the people who actually were the ones reviewing my paperwork. Even though it still took a while, I think it helped push it a little quicker. It even got to the point were my insurance company was calling me telling me who was reviewing my paperwork next and even giving me there number!! SMILE
   — sistabodean

October 27, 2001
CALL!!! My Dr.s office told me the same thing. she said it might do more damage than good. She was wrong!! I called my Insurance about a week and half after it was submitted. She told me they were waiting for a few more documents. I knew I had turned everything in, so it was something that my Dr.s office forgot to submitt. I called my surgeons office, had them fax the missing documents, and I was approved less than 24 hours later. I would CALL!!! Good Luck
   — skymaxjr

October 29, 2001
I called the bariatric surgery rep. (who informs patients they are approved or not) every 2 weeks for the 3 months they had my file. (Kaiser) So did it help hurry them along, or help me get approved? No, not at all. Kaiser doesn't care if you call every single day...they won't approve you if you don't meet the criteria. But it kept me sane being able to speak to the rep. every so often. We also sort of became phone "friends", and this gave me a connected feeling. I am approved, but still don't have a definite date. All I know is it will be open RnY in Jan. or Feb. 2002. My advice is to call every so often so they know you are "out there". Even if they have nothing to tell you, you still feel like you're doing something! Hugs and good luck, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]