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How long til I can actually have surgery?

bradenappleton
bradenappleton Posts: 3
in Social Groups
Hi everyone. I'm just now in the process of getting approved. The surgeon has said I AM a candidate so we are just working out the kinks with insurance. On average, how long after deciding to have the surgery does it take to actually get to the step of getting the surgery? I'm not having to do a weightloss program. I've just submitted all my past doctor supervised weightloss records to insurance.

Replies

  • sue100194
    sue100194 Posts: 129
    The most time consuming part for me was all the required consults - cardiac, sleep medicine (followed by a sleep study), psych, etc. Some of those specialists were booking 6 weeks out so it took me about 3 months to get that part all in order.
  • reisu
    reisu Posts: 16
    This can vary from carrier to carrier.

    All plans have some pre-requisite meetings/appointments that need to be kept; some plans say 3 months, others (like myself) said 6 months. So I had my first appointment, it was confirmed that I was definitely a candidate...and had to go back for 6 months, prior to being given a date. Once I got the approvals, my appointment for surgery was set 2 weeks later..

    I would call your policy holder, and find out what their expectations are from there end, because sometimes the doctor can say one thing, but it's only relevant to their portion of the task.
  • ChelleDJM
    ChelleDJM Posts: 161
    Mine did not get submitted to insurance until my psych and dietician and primary physician's exam was submitted. I had it all submitted with one carrier in October and never heard anything for months. January 1 my insurance changed and I figured I would have to do it all again. They required a few things that took a couple weeks, but after it was submitted, I had approval within about 0 days, with a surgery date for 6 weeks out. So yep, depends on insurance company turnaround and they are all so different! Talk to the billing person at the weight loss office and see how quick the turnaround is on approval. That is the best bet. They were spot on with me.
  • fire_Falcon
    fire_Falcon Posts: 19
    Mine was almost a year from beginning t surgery. It came down to the last minute sleep study after the AT HOME study was inconclusive. ASK for the In Lab study from the beginning. Beyond that it was a matter of getting appoitments with doctors.
  • moepps
    moepps Posts: 3
    WOW, I am reading everyone's replies and I am shocked! I had my consultation in late January and had to meet two requirements: 1. meet with a dietitian
    2. have a psych eval
    3. attend a bariatric education course

    Thankfully I was able to do all three both at the same place, they only had the appointments on the 1st weekend of the month, and I called two days before and was able to get in the class. I made my next two appointments for the same day a couple weeks later in February.

    It took about a week after my information from all three was sent to my insurance for me to get approval. I met with my doctor the following week and we scheduled my surgery two weeks out to allow for the pre op surgery diet. I was shocked that everything moved so fast, and felt really blessed.

    So I would definitely be ontop of all these processes. Make sure that all information gets sent to your insurance company as soon as you are done with your pre requisites. Also be on top of your Doctor's office. Calling once a week to check to see if they have received your approval (they will receive notice first).

    Good Luck Good Luck Good Luck!

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  • bikrchk
    bikrchk Posts: 516 Member
    From the time I was submitted it was about a month and 1/2. Could have been sooner, but the doc had a trip scheduled and didn't want to leave town the day after my surgery, just in case so it waited till he returned. Took a month during that time to get all the per-op testing, consults, etc done.

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