Question:
To any of you who have BCBS of Mich and have had plastic surgery...

How long did it take to get approval by the insurance company?? Im going to see Dr DiNick on April 8th for a consult regarding tummy tuck/breast lift. Im not going through the BTC since they dont take BCBS anymore, Im going through his private office in Southfield. Thanks!    — Kris T. (posted on March 1, 2004)

March 1, 2004
I have BCBS Community Blue, PPO of MI and received approval for my tt fairly quickly. I believe it was somewhere along the lines of a few weeks. I used a PS out of Troy who was fabulous! He applied for approval for tt and belt lipectomy, insurance only paid for the tt portion. I also had a breast lift/implants and 2 hernias repaired. Good Luck!
   — Chloe S.

March 1, 2004
Hello, 7 days out from full body lift (TT, buttocks and outer thighs with some lipo)along with ventral hernia repair. I have BCBS Traditional and it took 8 weeks to get approved and 2 weeks to surgery, a total of 10 weeks to wait. I thought about going through DiNick but he is far away from the Lansing area and the wait for horrible, so I went with Dr. Livingston from MSU department of surgery. I am so glad I did, I got approved for abdominalpasty and hernia repair and he asked me how far around I wanted to go. I told him as far as he could and he went 360 degrees and did some surprise lipo on the outer thighs. There is no way I would have been able to afford the lift, I am so greatful to him. Just so you guys know, lipo hurts BAD, there isn't any pain from the incision but my thighs hurt like crazy. I have before and after pics if anyone is interested. Planning on returning to Livingston for inner thigh and breast lift and augmentation soon. Take care and good luck with your journey.
   — Angela A.

March 2, 2004
I had my TT done by Dr. DiNick Jan. 26th. and I have the same ins. as you and it took about 8wks. or so, but it was because BCBS was behind schedule from what I was told. Dr. DiNick is great and you will be so happy!!! I went to his southfield office to due to BTC not taking BCBS too. They did cover my TT, but denied my thigh lift. Good luck!
   — Sandy M.

March 2, 2004
Me again :o) Did you recieve the letter from BTC that said Dr. Roger is not with them anymore and you need to pick out a new Doctor? Just wondering why he is gone?
   — Sandy M.

March 5, 2004
First of all, Dr. Rogers retired completely and moved to Europe where his family is. Second, Dr. Vayntrub is an internal medicine doctor and not a bariatric surgeon. Third, BC/BS's speed in approving/denying procedures just depends on how busy they are at the time. And just a little FYI....every Traditional BC/BS of Michigan policy is different based on who the employer is what they are paying BCBS to cover. One employer may pay for certain procedures and another may not, so it just depends on your employer and what they are paying BC/BS to cover. Good luck to you!
   — Lynette B.