Insurance Saga

I am in need of some input here but first I have to provide the details of how I got to where I am now with this insurance. Here it goes:    I had Lap-band installed in July of 2003. I experienced some early initial success but that has not worked out. I have had a lot of vomiting and it is no longer recommended that it stay installed. By 2004 the Lap-band doctor suggested to me the possibility of BPD-DS. I look back on this as kind of surprising because I had never really heard of this procedure before and the fact that he probably would not really be a huge fan of the surgery anyway. He gave me the name of a doctor an Emory University but I don't think he did revisions. I think someone at that office suggested a surgeon in Nashville but did not have the name. So then I begin to research DS here on Obesity Help. I attended one of Dr. Husted's info seminar's in Nashville on February 23, 2005. I had learned that he was one of just a few surgeons who would remove this Lap-band and convert to the DS in ONE procedure. Well as you can determine that was 2 years ago. I wish I had went ahead and had that done at that time. I actually had coverage for it but my job situation would not allow me to take off that much time. I also knew at the time I was way too anemic too be considered and my PCP (at the time) did not let me know about this little cure called iron infusion for those of us with deteriorating female organs. So I made the mistake of waiting.  Then in May of 2006 my husband became eligible for better insurance which he elected and I was just certain the time was right. All of the planets and stars were aligned. I had the opportunity and the time. Then the bomb.......Dr. Husted was relocating to California. OMG!! I could not believe my misfortune!! Then unknowingly I was idiotic enough to think that I could actually go to CA for the revision where he was working at the time.  However, prior to making such a long trip for the DS, I went to see Dr. Dennis Smith in Atlanta to see if he could do anything for me. I thought he could by what was posted (and still is) on his website about conversion to DS for those with the Lap-band. I went to see him in July 2006 and he told me that he was not set up to take on revisions and all he could do was leave dear old Lap-band in and convert to DS. I WAS NOT interested in that option. The Lap-Band has not been successful for me and I think I am in need of removal. Fast forward to September 16, 2006. I meet with Dr. Husted again in Nashville at another one of his info seminars. I just wanted to ask him again if he could do what I wanted done any potentially laparoscopically. He said that would be his plan. The following week while reading further on the Rabkins' webpage I happen to notice this small little insignificant detail about an $8,500.00 deposit. No mention of that was made at Dr. Husted's September seminar. Well not only did I find out that, but I found out even better news that the deposit for revision was $10,000.00. Wow wasn't that great news after all this drama I had been through.  So my DH and I immediately agree to hock the house and get the deposit. This turned out to be a big mistake. By this time, toward the end of November, I had everything. All the required pre-op testing, the money, the time, the physical health, everything. Dr. Husted's office with my persuasion to send in just one more form obtains insurance approval for me on December 15, 2006. January 2007--What the Heck? Where's my surgeon? What happened? After several e-mails to Dr. Husted and several phone calls, Dr. Husted finally calls me and tells me that he will no longer be working with the Rabkins. He related to that it would probably be May before he would be accepting patients again. I don't know that for sure! Ok so here I am in a no surgery situation again. I quickly get my crap together and see Dr. Brian Lane for consult January 18, 2007. Well he wants to do the DS in two steps. I initially agreed, but that was stupid. I am NOT going to do that. I WANT MY DS!! I don't want to be cut on twice. Dr. Lane's office did gain approval through Anthem for Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I have the letter. I cancelled with Dr. Brian Lane. Thank god I got the flu. I was scheduled to have the Vertical Sleeve on February 26, 2007. That is crap. NO WAY. I am glad I got sick before I did something more stupid. I made an appointment with Dr. Micheal Schweitzer who performs revisions. On February 26, 2007, my husband and I travel through a treacherous ice storm to make my appointment with Dr. Michael Schweitzer. He agreed to do it laparoscopically. He agreed to take the band out and convert me to BPD/DS. His office assistant, Debbie, faxed in all the paperwork. I was denied 3-7-07 after a physician's review. They also told me that the other 2 approvals were errors and I should have never been given approval for those procedures at all. I have to go through the appeals process now. One of their codes that they accept is for open revision to duodenal switch. Dr. Schweitzer even did peer to peer on my behalf. This level of appeal was also denied.  I decided not to take anymore chances and find another in-network surgeon who could do my revision to DS. I say Dr. Gary Anthone in Omaha, Nebraska on March 27, 2007. He submitted all of my pre-op testing and other paperwork to Anthem BC/BS on April 25, 2007.  Today is May 17, 2007 and they are still saying it is in review. Do any of you have any suggestions. I have contacted Gary Viscio and my husband has written a letter to his HR department because this is a self-funded policy. Is Anthem BC/BS this hard to deal with. I DO NOT have any exclusions in my policy.  I am sorry this was so long but I really felt it important to include the details. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for reading!!! Vanessa