insurance hassles and tips

[Guest guest]

This is a mesage that was posted some time go but needs to be re-posted

from time to time just as a reminder for those seeking approval for WLS.

<< I've been reading everyone's posts about their insurance woes. As

someone who was nearly arrested trying to get approval, I thought I'd

add some helpful tips. If you already know all these, them skip down to

the end.

1. Everytime you call your insurance company customer service

department, make sure you have pen and paper handy. Write down the date

and time and the name of the person with whom you spoke.

2. Write down everything you talked about as well as the rep's

responses. Your notes, should you need them, are admissible in a court

of law and look damning when you whip out a sheaf of notes.

3. Type up your notes as well. This lets you have a chronology of what's

occured. Plus, it starts to look very impressive and will be very

helpful to you as as you continue to battle.

4. Keep asking questions.

5. Keep asking question. Sounds like a repeat, but I am convinced that

it was my asking questions and questioning credentials, procedures and

points of law directly to the medical director's office that won my

approval. Insurance companies DO NOT want to have to reveal their

procedures for denying surgery.

6. Although you can't sue and insurance

company for denying you a procedure, you can make their lives very

sticky. Contact your State Insurance Commissioner's Office and have them

set up a file for you. Get a case number and everytime you send a piece

of correspondance to them, put a cc. on the bottom to the SICO and your

file number. OOOOO.....that get's them good.

7. Play hardball and contact your Representative or Senator. The

Patietn's Bill of Rights is a hot topic this election year and it can

work to your advantage.

Ok....enough on that.

Sheehs....me and my big mouth....

-- Hepsi Zsoldos

" One road leads to London, One road runs to Wales, My road leads me

seaward, To the white dipping sails. "

  Masefield >>

Peace and Health,

TJ

LAP BPD/DS 2/16/01

Dr. Dennis /Marietta,GA

http://www.ObesitySurgeryCenter.com

http://www.duodenalswitch.com