I am still waiting to hear from the patient coordinator who won't return my calls.  I think it's because she screwed up.

I finished my 6 month regimen, met with the surgeon in March, did the psych and nutrition evaluations and all the paperwork was submitted.  I was leaving town, so I called to get a status before I left.  On 4/19, she told me my case was in final review.  Then she called me on 4/27 to tell me they denied me because they didn't have any weight records for me for 2011.  (Why didn't she ask me for these if they were required and were missing?)  So I needed to fax a release form to her so she could get them from my doctor.  That took a few days because I had no access to a printer or fax to get them to her during the wedding.

Last week, she said she had submitted the new paperwork and I should call her on Friday.  (BTW, you can't call her -- you can only leave a message in her voicemail.)  She didn't return my call.  I called again this morning.  As of yet, she hasn't returned my call.

So I called Aetna to see if they had any information.  They told me they had denied me and told the doctor on 4/18!  They only have a 14 day window for a special appeal.  No appeal was submitted from the doctor and now I have to go through a general appeal which I'm assuming will take longer.

I am so angry!!!  I called the doctor's office again and left a message with the receptionist.  If I don't hear today, that doctor is going to get an earful.

Looks like I'm shopping for a new doctor.

Sounds exactly like what happened to me, well except I wasn't denied...I was just dooped around by the patient coordinator so long it felt like I'd never find out what was really going on.

If you do have the ability to go to another surgeon, I certainly would!

 If you like your surgeon and feel comfortable with him, I wouldn't start the whole process over but I would definitely ask for his personal email address and make sure that he knows exactly what has happened and that you are considering taking your insurance dollars elsewhere.  Once you are approved, you can choose any surgeon you want, your approval is not linked to that surgeon.  I imagine he is clueless as to the slacking off of his staff and someone needs to inform him or else he and his patients will continue to get jerked around by his unconcerned staff member.  Don't be intimidated by them, THEY are working for YOU.  Good luck...