October 2007 Before Surgery: Finally, I have everything in order with insurance, ready to focus on surgery. Two weeks before surgery they run the entire mandatory test and they found bacteria that cause ulcers; therefore they require me to have a colonoscopy and endoscopy before surgery. One week before surgery I got the test and the prior result from endoscopy show that I had Anthritis. Oh my God from my part time receptionist job it changed to drama queen job. I started searching at internet and I thought it was cancer. But, the job of drama queen it only took me for a week because doctor told me three days before surgery that it will not be a problem at all. I called immediately to my dad in Guadalajara, to buy his plane ticket.
May 2007 Journey Begins: Begin with my primary doctor requesting the gastric bypass for the insurance. Without response for a month from insurance I decide to start calling by myself until I got approved first for my visit to the Nutritionist and then to the psychologist. Took, like 2 months calling back and forward with the insurance. Insurance stating that the Nutritionist and psychologist had not send the fax saying that I had complete my appointments. So, I called every day to the doctors and to the insurance. The doctors said that they did fax and the insurance they did not receive it. Finally, after calling every single day, I got approved for a surgeon office visit. I was so happy until the doctor said that the approval it was only for the office visit. My "receptionist job" started again. In one month I got the approval for the surgery. WOW, too much good to be real. After my job (Accountant), I went home to gave the notice to my husband. When I opened my door's house, I found on the counter that he had been laid off (Of course, my insurance was through his job). You can picture the support that I gave him. I started crying like a baby. I was not sure if Cobra will pay it or not. Two weeks later, I found out that they will. Now, I have a surgery date, October 23rd 2007, I am really scared but excited at the same time. I will entered how it will go and the loosing zone. Many Hugs and Kisses
I really recomend everyone at this point of the process that if you do not get response from insurance. Call every day to find out the status. Other person will not do it for you. They just will say it was rejected. When maybe something it was incompleted on the request.