"I pretty much knew what to expect when I called Dr. Naaman's office, thanks to this web site and all the information available.
They faxed me the registration packet as soon as I called. I filled out the registration form and diet history form and faxed this back along with a copy of my medical insurance card. I called to make sure they got my fax, and was told I needed to have a psychological evaluation along with a nutritional evaluation, and they gave me the names and #'s to call. I also have to get blood work with a thyroid screening. I have already been to see my dr. to get a copy of my weight loss medical records along with a letter of recommendation for wls. So, I guess I'm on my way. As soon as I get appts. for the above evaluations and get all my paperwork to Dr. Naaman's office, I'll hopefully get scheduled for my 1st consultation.
1-22-03 - 1st Consult. scheduled for Feb. 10th. Waiting for the Psych. Eval. appt. with Ruth Sherman took the longest, which was about a month. Oh well, at least I'm getting closer.
2/10/03 - Consult completed. Dr. Naaman was just as I expected, although he said treadmills were for only when it snows in Houston. It took all of 5 minutes to go over the surgery booklet. I didn't really have any questions since I am overly educated from the internet. Had to go to the lab to have some blood drawn for a 'bleeder' test. Amanda said that she would need about 10 days to get the paperwork together to send to the insurance company. So I wait again.
This whole process requires alot of patience, whether you have any or not.
2/27/03 - Had an appt. with a gastro...dr on 2/20. Set up another appt. for a gastroscopy on 2/27, which was today. My helicobactor count was high from the blood test I had on 2/10. Now I wait for 2 weeks to see if I have an ulcer. Have another appt. on 3/14 to go over the results of the scope.
In the mean time, I talked with my insurance company, and it's so confusing on who makes the final decision for approval of this surgery. The word I got today, is that there is an exlcusion for this in the plan and I will get a denial letter that I can appeal. My patience is wearing thin, it's too bad I'm not.
11/15/2004 - My 2nd attempt to have this surgery. My company AIG (3rd party admin. United Healthcare) has now decided to pay for this surgery starting in 2005. I contacted Dr. Naaman's office and I don't have to redo any of my tests. Just need another letter from my current physician and copy of current bloodwork. Bernice will send everything to United Health Care in January.
2/01/2005 - Still waiting on UHC approval. They didn't have the new plan information and sent me a denial letter stating plan exclusion. I had to appeal and send them the new plan information so someone would take a look at my request again. It's amazing that it's the patient's responsibility to provide the new plan information to the ins. co.
02/22/2005 - I've been calling every day to see what's going on with my case #. If you don't, they will ignore it for months. My dr's office had to reopen another reference # after the appeal dept. closed it and sent it back to pre-d. Pre-d. said it didn't have to go thru their dept. because it was a covered expense. There are too many departments to keep up with. Now I'm calling Care Coordination to find out the status of my new reference #. Found out today that I was finally approved.
AFTER 2 YEARS OF WAITING FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!
Will wait for my approval letter to schedule the surgery.
3-1-05 - Got approval letter.
3-16-05 - SURGERY!!!"
