Question:
How long from Insurance Approval to WLS?
Can anyone tell me generally what the timeline looks like. If my insurance approves the surgery, generally how long does it take to get all the steps of the process completed and have the surgery? Of course the quicker the better! — Amanda R. (posted on April 16, 2002)
April 16, 2002
Hi. It ofcourse depends on your surgeon, all places are different. I am
scheduled for LAP RNY on May 24. They give you a date for surgery the same
day they send your info to insurance, and I just got my date like a week
ago. SO, for me personally, it will only have taken 6 weeks. My surgeon
also said that I shouldn't have a problem with insurance cuz i have AETNA
and I have done a million diets. It also depends on your surgeon and how
many peopkle he is working with, mine has been doing this for a year, where
as 2 other surgeons at the same obesity clinic have been performing it for
2 years, and have a longer patient wait. Goodluck to you!
— Lezlie Y.
April 16, 2002
It really does depend on your surgeon and your insurance company. I had my
initial consultation with the doctor on Feb. 20. I was approved by my
insurance on Feb. 28, and on Mar. 18, the doctor's office called me telling
me I could schedule my surgery date. I scheduled it for May 7 (for work
reasons), but I could have had it sooner than that. At the initial
consultation, the doctor's assistant told us (a group of approx. 40 people)
that half of us will fight with our insurance companies for 6 months or
longer. I didn't fight with mine at all, but I have United Healthcare,
which is EXCELLENT! Good luck!
— Kristie B.
April 16, 2002
As the previous two posters stated, it depends on your surgeons schedule.
I did my first consult Sept. 14th last year. Was approved by my insurance
company October 30th and I suspect it would have been much sooner, but my
surgeons office was backlogged with other paperwork and didn't get the
request sent in until mid-October. I had my surgery November 5th. I had a
mad scramble to get all of my pre-op testing done and make personal
arrangments in such a short time frame. But, it kept my mind off of all
the worries that pre-ops have about complications, so it all worked in my
favor.
— Susan M.
April 16, 2002
Submitted Nov. 19, 2001 first denial March 15, 2002---took daily calls to
the insurance company and repeated faxes --I am fighting this for approval
at this moment--3rd level review in progress---I have already contacted
Obesity Law
— Linda L.
April 16, 2002
I was approved after four weeks total with Aetna (ppo). MY advice to all
(from personal experience) is to call every single day to make sure your
information has been received by the CORRECT department. After, that call
and check in it again. After 1-2 weeks, I called each and every day to see
what stage my application was in. I was approved the first time. Any
questions, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] GOOD LUCK! Lisa
:-)
— Pizofret
April 16, 2002
It totally depends on your insurance and doctor's office...I was approved
for surgery AT my initial consultation (much to my surprise), and could
have been scheduled within 2-3 weeks. However, for family reasons I chose
not to be scheduled until 2 1/2 months later...I will have an open RNY on
June 20. I consider myself very lucky to have United Healthcare Choice
Plus of FL...after reading some of the problems other posters have had with
other insurance co. :)
— MaryBeth R.
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