for those having insurance approval problems...

[Guest guest]

I know this won't help most of you, but in case it helps a few, I

thought I'd throw it out there.

My husbands owns a small company (60 employees) and he is the person

who makes the insurance decisions. We have Anthem BC/BS of

Connecticut, an " HMO " -type plan called " Blue Care. " Just this week,

I

initiated the approval process for " out of network " services. I

should hear within the next week and a half or so.

In the meantime, I was discussing with my husband that the insurance

company had told me that there are other BC/BS plans that

specifically

allow for out-of-area services; essentially, you are allowed to

choose

whatever doctors you want, wherever you want.

My husband was familiar with these plans; he has one employee (in

Massachusetts) who has this type of plan, since our Connecticut HMO

doesn't really help him.

Knowing that I was nervous about getting declined under our current

policy, my husband called the insurance rep today and inquired as to

how difficult it would be to switch me over to one of the " open "

plans. The rep is checking on whether this can be done in the middle

of the year, but assured my husband that it could certainly be done

at

the end of the year.

I'm hoping that I won't need to do this, but that instead I'll get a

letter (TOMORROW--I hate to wait--LOL) that I'll be covered under our

current plan.

But for those of you having problems, and who don't have the option

with your employer to switch insurance companies--perhaps you might

want to consider approaching your employer about switching plans

within the existing insurance company. You'll likely have to pay

more monthly, but this is certainly preferable to self-pay (or no

surgery at all!), and you can switch back to the cheaper plan the

year

following the surgery.

Hope this helps someone out there!

--a

E-Mailed Form to Dr. R on 6/20