self-pay/insurance coverage

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone--

I got my first ding from the insurance company--Anthem BC/BS--I was

expecting it, and actually, the lady I talked to was very helpful re:

the appeal and very optimistic that I'd eventually get coverage.

Believe me, I'll dog this darned company until they approve me! Hee

hee

Now that I've found this wonderful surgery, I can't bear wading

through months of insurance hell, plus the summer is a far better

time

for me in terms of scheduling. So, I'm thinking I'll submit my

packet

and plan to self-pay if insurance hasn't come through yet.

My question to you guys--I've noticed that many of you have self-paid

while duking it out with your insurance company and eventually got

insurance to pay--I'd love to hear from anyone/everyone who's done

this. How does it work--when you get insurance to pay (I'm totally

optimistic here that insurance WILL come through), do they reimburse

you directly? And do your chances for coverage decline once you've

paid for it yourself?

Thanks so much for your help--

--a in CT