CAN THIS BE REAL???

Hello all, I started this journey on 1-22-08 by attending the Bariatric Seminar.  On 2-19-08 I had my consultation with the nutritionist and Psych eval.  On 3-10-08 I had my appointment with my Surgeon of choice (Dr. Kehdy).  Before they would submit to insurance I was told that I still needed to have a Cardio and Pulmonogly  work-up.  They scheduled this for me.  My Pulmonologist was 1st scheduled on 3-27-08 and Cardiologist on 4-7-08.  On 3-25-08 the Pulmo Dr. office called to confirm my appointment and to make sure that I had received and filled out their patient packet, I had.  On 3-26-08, (the day before my 9:00 am appt they call to say we no longer accept your insurance!  I was very angry that they had not only called to confirm the day before and sent all the required paperwork, but that they had nerve to cancel the very day before!  It took 3 weeks just to get that appt.!  Anywho, I decided to take matters in my own hands and scheduled my own appt with another pulmo doc that i picked right out of the Anthem handbook.  However, the soonest I could get in was 4-22-08!  Better late than never.. Continuing on, I went to the Cardio appt. on 4-7 and passed with flying colors.  I went to the Pulmo doc on 4-22 and was told it would take another couple of weeks to do all the tests (MVV, ABG, DLCO, PFT w/ Spirometry, Pre & Post Volumes) I said no way!  I need them ASAP.  Well luck was on my side because she called the hospital (Floyd) and they had an opening today (4-24) and I jumped on it.  Went this morning and everything was fine until the Dr. getting ready to take the ABG (arterial blood gas, which hurts like heck) decides to go for the Bracchial Artery against my repeated attempts to get him to go for the wrist.  Doc knows best right?  WRONG!!! He not only hits my Bracchial Nerve but does not even get the blood!  I was screaming it hurt so bad.  My entire right arm went onto spasms and my fingers clenched.  Needless to say that he was not touching me again so he had to get a consult immediately , this guy actually listened to me and went for the wrist and got it on his 1st stick.  It still hurt but oh well. Now then,  I get home and lay strait down, still in street clothes, and fall fast asleep.  I awake at 4:15 and find that the mail has come.  Laying at the top of the stack is an evelope from "University Surgeons Assoc."  I think to myself, what else could possibly go wrong today?  I am thinking that because I re-scheduled my own Pulmo Dr. appt. and it had been so long that maybe they needed more info.  So I nervously open it up and what do I see? A SURGERY DATE WITH SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS!! I am not sure how this is even possible as I had just went this morning for all the Pulmo tests and this was mailed out on Monday.  I immediatly called the Surgeon's office and left a detailed message and since it was so late in the day, I have to wait until tomorrow to find out for sure.  I am almost positive that I was told that Surgery could not be even scheduled without prior approval from your insurance so I am assuming this is the real deal.  It lists my Surgery date as 6-2-08 and all my pre-op blood work, chest x-ray, followed by the Bariatric education class pre-op on 5-21-08. Can this be real?  Does this mean that all my info was already submitted to my insurance without the Pulmonology tests and still approved?  I am literally walking on air right now. I was so nervous at first because of my insurance, ( I have Anthem Medicaid, Indiana) I was also told that I did not have to complete any 6 month weight management and I have only had this insurance since 12-07) Everyone I spoke said that IN Medicaid requires this but I have not done it.  I also had no prior medical records, only since 12-07 because I had not been to Dr in years.  I am 34 and weigh in at 255 with a height of 5'6".  I am barely at a BMI of 40 with no CO-MORBidities.  My Anthem handbook states very clearly what is covered  and what is not, and under the covered is Bariatric Surgery, so that is why I went for it! I am having the LAP RNY. Well, just had to write and share the news with people I knew would unstand my excitement and frustration all combined..lol Thanks for letting me vent and please respond if this is what I think it is. I also should mention that Dr. Allen has to be in the OR with Dr. Kehdy due to Insurance requirements and Dr. Allen will be the surgeon actually getting paid , not my doc.

Wow, that is crazy good news.  I would want to have the letter from Anthem though in my hands telling you are approved before I moved forward though.   Congrats.  I am so jellous, I have been approved for a week and I am still waiting on a date! Best Wishes! Kim

Thanks, After posting i checked my caller ID and seen that my surgeon's office did indeed call yesterday, but failed to leave voice mail.  So I am once again assuming that means what i think.  Also, as my insurance is technically IN Medicaid they do not send approval letters like regular insurances.  I have never received any correspondance from them at all.  When I had a Tubal done in January (elective, and not medically nes.)  My GYN got the pre-cert , however I never received anything other than a surgery date. Good Luck to you and I am sure your date will be here before you know it.