Question:
I HAVE BEEN APPROVED BUT SURGERY IS 8-10 MONTHS AWAY???

i thought i won the battle when i got the approval letter last friday. today my case worker called and told me there are months and months of testing (i've already been tested for sleep apnea) and then a surgery date could be a year away! a year! the 8 months i waited for approval were the hardest 8 months of my life and now they're telling me it's at least that much longer??? i'm going crazy here, i feel like my life depends on this surgery. has anybody else experienced this? any ideas on how to speed up the process? thanks in advance! :)    — Elizabeth (Lisa) K. (posted on November 20, 2002)

November 19, 2002
You could find another doctor. I am in Florida and when my insurance finally approved, I had my surgery 2 1/2 weeks later. Thank God I didn't have to wait a long time. Don't think I would have made it. My doctor also did not make me go through a bunch of testing. He said that unless there is a major reason for testing, he believes it is just a a waste of time and money. I am so glad that he was the doctor I chose. If changing doctors is not an option, then just hang in there, you will make it and believe me it will be worth it in the long run. Take care!
   — Tammy M.

November 19, 2002
Lisa, I waited 18 months from my first referral from my PCP to surgery. The delay was all related to the surgeon, not the insurance. If I had to do it all over again, I would find another surgeon and get on with my life. It was very hard to see people see the surgeon, have surgery, and lose ALL of their weight while I waited. Good luck, I know what you mean about your life hinging on this surgery, it truly does. I am now 9 weeks postop and down 56#. Hang in there.
   — Dana S.

November 20, 2002
I started the process through my HMO to keep costs down but found out that it could take 4-6 months to get a surgical consult and then another 4-6 months for surgery so I went the PPO route and am shopping docs who tell me anywhere from six weeks to 4 months. Check around.
   — susanje

November 20, 2002
You didn't gain weight over night, you can't expect to lose it over night either, right?? Be patient, things happen for a reason!
   — Rachel W.