Oh, the chaos!

Apr 02, 2009

Yesterday my lapband doctor, Dr Kim, called and dropped me as a patient.  After all this work and effort and many contacts by me to both them and the insurance company it has been decided that if the physician is out of network there will be NO benefits whatsoever paid for weight loss surgery.  I was devestated!  I felt like I personally had been rejected in some way.  My last appointment of the 6 months of physician monitored weight loss appointments is tomorrow and then we can seek approval from the insurance company.  What incredible timing! Now I've got to find a new doctor.

Here's where things get tricky.  As of May 1 our insurance and physician network are changing.  We don't even have insurance cards so I can't  look for a doctor to be in network yet and if I could they wouldn't be able to confirm benefits for me.  I feel like my hands are really tied at this point.  Since we're going to do this WLS and the butt surgery a week apart from one another everything is now up in the air for BOTH surgeons.

On top of all the insurance issues I've got to figure in the work restrictions regarding when I can be off.  We've got some certifications and related audits coming up as well as the annual sales meeting.  I can't be gone April 13th, May 13th-15th or the 18th.  In fact, they don't want me gone during the time from April 13th-May 18th so that I'll be here to prepare for the audit.  I don't mind arranging my schedule for what's best for all of us since we're a small office and need to help one another. It looks like this surgery may not happen till June!  Oh! This is really testing my patience and I'm finding it's getting thinner and thinner all the time.

I've found another doctor I might like but we don't know if he's going to be in-network and he's going to require several more appointments. Yuck!  I've determined through this process that I absolutely HATE filling out this kind of paperwork.  It's redundant, rarely looked at on the level that they are requiring information and a pain in my rear!   Anyway, this new doc would require an initial consultation, a 'university class' (1/2 day, group setting, part with the doc and with the dietician and counselor separately) then individual visits with the dietician and counselor.  This will be my 4th doctor to approach for this type of surgery.  Each and every one wants you to listen to his version of the concept.  I GET IT ALREADY!!! GOOD GRIEF!!!

Anyway, since I'm the type that doesn't like to have my plans thwarted you can imagine that my frustration levels are running extremely high right now.  Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands in the air and saying 'Screw the whole thing!'  However, I look at the before and after pictures on this website and see a little of myself in everyone of these people.  I want this change in my life.  I want to be the new me!  I want to be the me I'm supposed to be!  I want life to open back up for me like it hasn't been in years.  I've got other aspects of my life in order now and I want the external me to be in order as well.  I'm tired of being fat. So, with that said, I guess I'm not giving up yet. I know that through God's grace I will persevere.

0 Comments