Does anyone here have Anthem Blue Cross?

I am bitting the bullet, I have a feeling my WLS may have to wait until I get my new insurance in July.  I have not heard from Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL yet and I am down to the crunch.  I need to have my surgery by June and and I need my approval.  I am OK with it, I am just nervous on what the requirments are for Anthem.  Does anyone know?  I posted this on the insurance side, and they really didn't give me an answer just beat around the bush.   Good news, I went to my diabetis managment class and I have lost one more pound since my last doctors appointment.  I thought I would have lost more, because my clothes is fitting so much better.  I can really tell a difference since last year.  So that brings my wieght loss since July of 07 at 29lbs.  It was a good appointment I was starting to have second thoughts of the surgery because of the complications and I talked with the RN about them.  She laid them to rest and told me she felt the benifits outweighed the risk especially being so young with my health complications.  One of my concearns was malabsorbtion.  And she told me that since I am diagnosedd diabetic I am always welcomed to come see them after my surgery and meet with one of the RD or RNs.  They will be able to help me through the porcess and make sure I am getting the right nutrients and vitamins.

Why don't you call BCBS and ask them what the hold up is....... you should qualify so give them a call and try to push forward that approval - I am sure Dr Halmi's office will work with you to get the surgery scheduled before your insurance changes.... Jackie

Hijack-- Great new pic Jackie!!! Back to the subject. Every BCBS is different and even if you have it, it depends on the program your employer is on. My company was on BCBS of Alabama and I was rejected a couple of years back. My wife started a new job a year ago and her company had BCBS of California...but more importantly covered the surgery. So I switched to her policy and was on the table 4 months later. The earlier advice to call is key. There are no blanket answers. Hope this helps. Blair

Thanks Blair - I was afraid no-one would recognize me on the 2nd and 3rd lololol!! I changed to Bill's insurance which was BCBS Federal and got my approval - I had Anthem Healthkeeprs before and they did not cover any surgery at all - so I changed over and got appoved within a couple of days.... Jackie

I have BC//BS as well.  I called them - got a REAL person on the phone, and asked them to FAX their surgery requirements to me.  I then made copies of the requirements.  I wrote a letter to each doctor I see for ANY reason, detailing my symptoms - playing off the list of requirements from the insurance company (not lying), but finding something that could be used - such as back, shoulder and neck pain - rashes - etc.  It wasn't hard to find some physical relationship to match their requirements. Of course, I had seen my plastic surgeon by then, so I coordinated it so that ALL the doctors sent their letters of recommendation to her (some I picked up personally), and  then she submitted it all at the same time, with pictures, and her own personal recommendation! It worked -  2 weeks to the day I was approved. I did the same thing for plastic surgery, and it also worked so that I could have a BR and Abdominoplasty (which even my PS didn't think would be approved. I would also suggest that you not let yourself get down if they deny you.  It seems that that is their normal process, but not the final word.  Tjhey deny, and hope you don't appeal. But if you have a handful of doctors saying you need this surgery, it seems that denying it makes it much that harder on them.  They are supposed to follow the recommendations of medical doctors. Lots of luck, Debby