Question:
BTC takes care of insurance approval, do I need to participate @ all?

   — Kristee (posted on January 4, 2002)

January 4, 2002
Probably not...whatever you do, don't start calling/writing your insurer. Savvy surgeons know just "what to say" and "what not to say" to get approvals. I say this because I'm a reimbursement specialist for a large teaching hospital and I've seen more than one case in which a patient has (unwittingly) gave the insurer reason to deny a procedure. Let the "experts" handle it.
   — [Anonymous]

January 4, 2002
I had surgery with BTC and they did take care of all the insurance approval. I did call daily to check the status of my review. They never asked for any medical information from me, I was just waiting for the review board to make a decision. Once approved I asked the claims person on the phone, which I got a different one every day, to please fax the approval to the BTC (I made sure I knew exactly who handled my insurance at the corporate office, which was MI) and had their fax number to give to the insurance person on the phone. When talking with the insurance company I was super super, kiss ass sweet. Good luck
   — Pam K.

January 4, 2002
I waited 2 weeks after BTC sent it in and started calling every week or so just to inquire- I was approved in 3 weeks from my date of consult, so I called a couple of times. I then asked them to fax me the approval and I sent it to my local BTC. It moved things along a little.
   — M B.

December 31, 2002
It has been a month since my surgical consult and I am stalled in that BTC has not sent the darned letter yet. From what others say, I will be approved or denied fairly quickly through my insurance but I am now frustrated because I am still waiting to hear if they even sent the letter yet.
   — Laurie L.

December 31, 2002
You have to keep contacting BTC on a regular basis. I was calling them at least every weeks. They got very tired of me calling, but they knew I was anxious. They are very slow in processing the paperwork. I believe they have only one location that processes their paperwork, so you can imagine how much paperwork they get. I even was the go-between for my insurance company. I got my approval letter before BTC did and I faxed it to them and then they called me within a few hours to schedule my surgery. Be sure to keep copies of all paperwork you sent. They also tend to lose things.
   — dolphins94