Pissed off!!!!!!!!

Everything is such a process and it really ****** me off at times. I am a possible revision surgery person and waiting on getting approval for a BOB once that has been approved then I will put in my request to see Dr. Rabkin for a DS. Ok, I call my current surgeons office because it has been a week since I had the appointment to see were they were on the approval process… The insurance coordinator went on vacation and won’t be bac****il October!!! I began asking questions if anyone know if she put the request through yet or if there was a way of telling if anything was done on my case. Of course based on my previous statement you know the answer is NO!!!!!!!! Such an inefficient place I really can’t believe that no one is doing anything or helping people get through this process. Anyway I guess I will have to wait until next month to find out if anything is going on. I hope she has a great vacation.

I want my DS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could you at least get from them a phone number to call your insurer yourself to see if they have received anything? Not a perfect solution, but worth a try.

Larra

Hi Larra,

I tried... I really tried but no on in that office can tell me anything. The sad part about this is what if something were to happen and she was out of the office for months would everything just stop.??? I for one wouldn't put up with it as an employer there would have to be a couple of back up people. Anyway I guess I will just wait to see what happens next month.

Sophia

You've already consulted with Dr Rabkin or you are waiting to be approved to go see him?

If you are waiting for approval and haven't seen your surgeon yet, I don't see how they'd have everything to submit because the surgeon's recommendation wouldn't be ready to send in if you haven't seen him.

So I am assuming you are saying you have to be approved to even get an appt with Rabkin?

I had to jump through the HMO process for a revision of my failed RNY. So the plan was to see a surgeon in my network so they could do the testing to see what part of my RNY had failed. (it is a HMO requirement for revision). So I have already seen the surgeon and he as suggested that I have a band over bypass (NOT!!). Anyway I have to wait on blue shield to approve any type of revision before putting in the request to see a duodenal switch surgeon since there aren’t any in my current medical group. So once I have approval for a revision my medical group said they would approve an out of network referral to see Dr. Rabkin or any surgeon I request.   So to answer the last question no I’m not waiting to see Dr. Rabkin I am waiting on approval for a revision. Once I have revision approval then I will be able to request the referral to see Dr. Rabkin and request a duodenal switch for revision.

Hi Sophia,

I read in your profile that you have Kaiser insurance (still the same?). I don't know anything about them but I went to the site and above to the right reads Services, click and you will read Member services (or something like that); maybe you will find a way to communicate with them, get a case manager or a telephone number. I have Aetna and have a case manager and a nurse (free of charge) and have gotten good information and help from them. Also, the doctor's office has to have somebody temporarly filling the position of this woman in vacation. It makes no sense to have an empty administrative position so important for patients. It may be frustrating, take time and energy and a lot of phone calls but I have been there, done that and gotten results; so, you have to be determined to find answers and do what it is necessarly and you can do it. You have to make it happen; is not coming to your door and ringing the bell, but it can be done.

Good luck to you.

Peace and good.

I think I need to update my profile I have Blue Shield. Thanks for your help.

Sophia

Hi Sophia, 

I feel your pain.  I spent countless days trying to get insurance coordinators with different docs to MOVE.  But it didn't happen quick enough for me so I went out of the country.  I wanted my DS now too.  Good luck  and remember the squeaky wheel gets the oil.  darlene

Thanks Darlene,

I was trying to be nice about everything but now I see what nice get you.