Question:
Should I send in pre-approval letter from my family physician or surgeon?

I don't know what the "procedure" is for sending in a pre-approval letter. Is that sent in by my family physician or from the surgeon. I haven't picked a surgeon yet. I won't be switching to the insurance company that covers the surgery until October/November, and it won't kick in until January 2001. So I didn't think I could make an appointment with a surgeon until I was under the new insurance, since my current insurance doesn't cover anything involving weight loss. What should I do?    — Lori M. (posted on May 9, 2000)

May 9, 2000
Lori, I am sorta going thru the same thing. I am currently with a HMO that won't cover WLS. I had went to my PCP to try to get a referral for a consult with a surgeon and my PCP wouldn't even see of it. Actually they did not know much of nothing of WLS. Anyways I then decided that I would change my ins (Which won't happen till next year-same as you). I thought well I might go ahead for a consult and pay out of my pocket well when I called the surgeon office they suggested that I not do this because then the ins co that I plan on going to might rule this as a pre existing condition and not pay so needless to say I have to just wait till next year to proceed. In the mean time I am collecting all of my med records and I am using this time to do more research, which is best because I am gathing valuable info. I figure that if it's meant to be it will happen next year I will just have to spend another inactive summer as a "large" person. good luck, Bonnie Sutton [email protected]
   — Bonnie S.