Question:
Has anyone ever been approved right before their surgery.....

date? I have about two weeks until surgery and my surgeon will submit my letter of medical necessity this next week. It's taken so long because I had many doctors appt.'s lately that she will include in my letter. Also, I have Blue Cross PPO in Wisconsin and my comorbs are: severe back pain, shortness of breath, ankle,hip and knee pain, carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel, hypothyroidism, and poss Sleep Apnea (sleep study on the 30th)--do you think I will be approved with these comorbs? Thanks for any info!!    — TP (posted on July 27, 2002)

July 27, 2002
As far as the co-morbids, each insurance com. is a lil diff. but, I can say that I had a date before approval also, and when I called to check the status, the liason(sp)asked me when my date was. He said that having a date does help to make it go a lil faster. At least for that company. CCN. Got a date, sent for approval, got it six days later with a week to spare. Good luck...
   — Marie A.

July 27, 2002
The only thing that I would be concerned about is your sleep study. If you do have sleep apnea, won't your surgeon put off your surgery until you have the apnea controlled with a c-pap? My surgeon wanted me to be using the c-pap for at least 2 weeks, preferably 4, before my surgery. I had my first sleep study, which diagnosed apnea, then 3 weeks later had to go back for a second study during which they used the c-pap to determine the air pressure I needed. Then I waited another week to get my machine. I am awaiting insurance approval, but I have been using my c-pap for 2 weeks. I hope you don't have to postpone surgery, but it would be for a very good reason. Hopefully, you won't even have sleep apnea! Best of luck to you! Ginger
   — Ginger N.

July 27, 2002
My apnea was severe at 17:( I never tolerated the thing, it gave me headaches and post nasal drip that made my GERD terrible. I told my surgeon and they monitored me closely and kept me on a higher flow of oxygen after surgery. I had no problems. So tht C pap for X weeks isnt necessarily true, there are other solutions. Carpal tunnel isnt weight related. but you have a good list of co morbidities even without the apnea....
   — bob-haller

July 28, 2002
I don't have a date yet, but I got insurance approval through BCBS of TN in 2 days after they got the correct code.
   — Pam G.

July 29, 2002
I got my approval today -- surgery is Wed. Yikes, was I sweatin' it out. Stay cool.
   — Jennifer W.