how long for ins approval?

[Guest guest]

Hello all. I am wondering how long I should wait

before bugging my surgeon's office about insurance. My

consult was a month ago. Do you think they've

submitted it yet? I asked my PCP and my ob/gyn to send

supportive letters and I'm sure they've done it. Is it

too soon to call and ask for an update?

I called Aetna and said my doctor said I had to have

surgery and did I need to give them any information

and she said what kind of surgery and I said bariatric

and she said no, the surgeon just writes a LOMN and

that's it. I didn't specify DS, I know they are

approving those on a case by case basis although I

don't know what makes a good *case*. Other than being

way heavy :-) Plus I've got all the usual

junk...apnea, knee arthritis, back pain, chest pain,

shortness of breath, yada yada yada.

Sooo...what do you all think I should do now? I am so

freaked out I've gained 5 pounds and my surgeon said

DON'T gain any weight or she wouldn't do the surgery.

I just feel totally out of control right now. I lost

13 lbs. before my consult but typically for me, now

it's all coming back. argh!!

Anyway, should I call on Monday?

becki

=====

Becki, near Portland, OR

BMI 50-ish, age 42

pre-op DS. hoping to get approval

through Aetna Traditional Choice

Consulted with Dr. on 3-13-01

psych ok, nutrition ok, now on to insurance!!!

beckeye_58@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 04/15/2001 12:02:45 AM Central Daylight Time,

ib_johnm@... writes:

<< To make a long reply shorter. Call on Monday. Be

polite. And keep yourself informed.

>>

Even though my journey through insurance was short, I used 's approach.

I was making up a list of " polite excuses " to call them. First I called,

about 5 days after it was sent, to be sure they received it. Then I called

to " check on its progress " a week later. While on that phone call, I must

have happened to be in touch with a supervisor. She called it up on the

computer, looked at it, and approved it while I was on the phone. But my

plan was to continue every week with " polite excuses " to call them.

Dawn

BPD/DS

4/27/00

Dr. Hess, Bowling Green, OH

267 to 165

size 22 to size 10

no more high blood pressure, sore feet, or dieting!!

www.duodenalswitch.com