Question:
Does it help to bug your insurance comapny to get approved?
MY SURGEANS OFFICE TOLD ME NOT TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THAT THEY WOULD DEAL WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INPUT. — [Anonymous] (posted on October 26, 2001)
October 26, 2001
Interesting your surgeons told you not to. My husband is an insurance
agent and he told me to call them about a week after the mailing to check
on things and ask politely if it could be expedited. When I called I was
already approved, but he said calling helps.
I can only assume your doctor is telling the ins. co. something you don't
know about. I would ask them WHY shouldn't you contact them.
— valerie S.
October 27, 2001
I've worked in health insurance on the claims and sales side for 20 years.
CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY!! Any doctor's office who tells you not to bug
the insurance company has an incompetent person sending in the information
to the insurance company or doesn't want to be bothered by you calling them
to check on the status. There are many times when insurance companies need
additional information from either you or the doctor and you could answer a
question that the insurance company has and keep the process moving. Also,
if the insurance company has a question to the doctor, you can follow up
with the doctor's office to make sure they have sent in the requested
information. Trust me, doctor's office are NOT the best at responding for
additional information on a timely basis, especially for a pre-approval.
— Patty H.
October 27, 2001
Call. I called my insurance company every other day and I think that
helped by them getting my answer quickly. I even made sure I knew the
names of the people who actually were the ones reviewing my paperwork.
Even though it still took a while, I think it helped push it a little
quicker. It even got to the point were my insurance company was calling me
telling me who was reviewing my paperwork next and even giving me there
number!! SMILE
— sistabodean
October 27, 2001
CALL!!! My Dr.s office told me the same thing. she said it might do more
damage than good. She was wrong!! I called my Insurance about a week and
half after it was submitted. She told me they were waiting for a few more
documents. I knew I had turned everything in, so it was something that my
Dr.s office forgot to submitt. I called my surgeons office, had them fax
the missing documents, and I was approved less than 24 hours later. I
would CALL!!!
Good Luck
— skymaxjr
October 29, 2001
I called the bariatric surgery rep. (who informs patients they are approved
or not) every 2 weeks for the 3 months they had my file. (Kaiser) So did
it help hurry them along, or help me get approved? No, not at all. Kaiser
doesn't care if you call every single day...they won't approve you if you
don't meet the criteria. But it kept me sane being able to speak to the
rep. every so often. We also sort of became phone "friends", and
this gave me a connected feeling. I am approved, but still don't have a
definite date. All I know is it will be open RnY in Jan. or Feb. 2002. My
advice is to call every so often so they know you are "out
there". Even if they have nothing to tell you, you still feel like
you're doing something! Hugs and good luck, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
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