question for Dr. B's Patients...

Don't want to exclude everyone else...but here is the deal... I have had everything into Dr. B's office since Sept. 21.   I have inquired of course and do not want to be pushy.  However, when can I become pushy?    Is two weeks not long enough time for them to know?  I am just about to go outta my mind.   please don't think I'm horrible...I'm just ready to start the new journey of my life!    All other NCers...if you are reading this... Thanks for stopping by... You can weigh in on my next nightmare... Insurance Approval with UHC!!  I've heard it takes anywhere from 3-4 days to 3 weeks.   that is a huge difference....  Yikes!!   Thanks...  Happy Columbus Day Connie

Connie, maybe I'm having a "moment", but I don't understand what you're wanting to know.  Are you wanting to know if they submitted your packet?  Keep check on that website they gave you, it will tell your progress, but even with me, that was slow to update.  Hang in there.......the waiting is the hardest part. nancy

Yep...I'm sorry Nancy.  I did mean for them to send in for Insurance approval.  They haven't done that and they have had everything since Sept 21.  Apologies. 

Connie

lol, I have heard with some people here it takes them a little bit....guess it goes with the work load.  They faxed me pretty quick, but I don't think they were as busy as they are now.  Hang in there! nancy

It wouldn't hurt to call.  Maybe someone has been out sick or on vacation. I had UHC and my surgery was approved  in 4 business days, but this was back in 2005 and they are much busier now.  The patience will kill you, but you will make it. Good Luck!!

Dr. Bauman's staff is very used to us being obsessive about the wait, trust me.  I spoke with them sometimes DAILY and apologized every time for being so impatient, but they are very understanding.  You are not the only one who has felt this way. If you are waiting on insurance approval, the main people I'd be calling is the insurance company.  I did that DAILY and sometimes multiple times daily.  I had to fight quite a bit and wanted to make sure they were working with my file every moment of every day until I got the word ... so get your #s to call UHC and be pushy with them.  As soon as Dr. Bauman's office gets the word from UHC, the rest of the process goes quite quickly.  I got approval one day, and I knew before his office did, got the approval #, called his office, and the next day I had surgery scheduled for less than 2 weeks later.   You're paying UHC the big bucks for coverage, so you earned the right to be pushy.

Connie, Hang in there. I got apprroval with UHC in 2 days. They have been wonderful. But all policys are different. I work for a bank in Charlotte.

Hi, I have Dr. b also.  My first visit to Dr. B was June 8th.  My case had a few complications because of previous surgery and he is very careful to know what he will be facing. I found out I was approved by calling ins. co  last week and it had been sent off about 1 week. I called the Dr. office and they had not received it yet. I will call this week if I do not hear something soon. My advice is to keep in contact with office on a weekly basis and double check to see they have all your list, Things seem to get misplace. They are very considerate and understanding and like the above post ......I would say I'm sorry but...I will be calling again next week, Most would just laugh. Be patient, there are a lot of people wanting this  surgery. Just keep on top of it and keep a sense of humor with the girls in the office and they will help you get it moving. I no how flustrating it is, and how impatient I was and now here I am telling you to be patient.  I wish you much luck. Keep us posted on your progress. Myrtis 

thanks Nancy, Jennifer, Dena, Renee and Myrtis!!!!  I hope I didn't forget anyone!!  You guys are great for putting my mind at ease...   I did make a call this morning and oddly got the main voicemail for Angie.  Its ok...I left one for her anyway and sounded as pitiful as I could.     So hopefully she has pitiy on me and will call me back.   let me explain...for those who haven't read or heard...sorry to be a broken record... I am a displaced employee (of a bank in charlotte too renee after 9 years!!) as of Nov. 30.   YIKES!!  I have explained to both Kim and Sandra in the office that UHC will cover my surgery 100%  That is why it is soooo important to get this into insurance asap!!   It would really be a shame for me to get this far and not be able to have this happen because of something so simple as turning it in.  I am so scared that it will not get in and approved and then dr. B schedule the surgery.  I mean,,what is the point of having insurance.  Wouldn't Dr. B like to have the guarantee of having 100% payment?  OK...now I'm just getting greedy and selfish...so I'm gonna stop....  That was horrible to say.   I'm just going through so many emotions.   Does anyone have any more suggestions or ideas of what I can do?  Besides going to his office and begging?    'cuz I aint to proud to beg!!   Anyway...sorry to get on this soapbox...but ya'll I am sooo close.  **tears**   Thanks for your wonderful support! Connie

  I had no problems getting my stuff sent in from the office.  If you don't have the docs, call Kim and ask if you can go up and get a copy of the package (or of the docs themselves) then call your contact at the ins co and ask if you can send it to them.  Be proactive.  It's your health and your surgery.  Make sure to give everybody everything they need to say yes.  (In case you haven't seen my ins recommendation - get the name and number of someone at your ins.  make a friend of them and ask if you can call for help.  then call frequently to ask questions.  get them to be your advocate on the inside.)  Sometimes ins responds better to the patient than to the docs office, at least in my experience. good luck