jdonley
5-11-06
Hello,
I have been gathering the data my insurance company requires since last August. My surgeon should send all my info to BCBC of AL tomorrow. I am really nervous! I have patiently be waiting for this day for a long time. I really hope it dosent take a long time to approve. If it is approved then it will have been well worth the wait but if it isnt approved well......... lets not go there just yet.
5-17-06
This has been a week of disappointments. I found out Tuesday that the surgeon's office still has not sent out my info to the insurance company. I get it, these doc's are like machines and crazy busy. The nurse called me Wed and said she was concerned that my 6 consecutive months of diet history was not good enough. I saw 2 diff doc for 6 consecutive months. Both doc's new I was seeing them to help meet one of many requirments for the insurance company. Seriously, I cant do their documentation for them! Or, can I? Hopefully things will work out and if not then here we go again, another 6 months of diet history. I will just have to make sure they document correctly. It would have been nice to have know the documention requirements before hand. I hope someone can learn from my mistake in this very long process. The insurance company should receive my info by next Wed. I plan on calling to verify then. In the mean time I wil continue to say my prayers!!!!!!!
6-1-06
Good News! I found out yesterday that the insurance company has logged all of my information into their computer system. I understand that the chances of an approval are slim to none but I do still have a glimmer of hope. I have read through all of my medical records over and over and I believe I have all the info I need. I just cant seem to shake what Dr. Gibbs nurse said about the doc's documentation not being adequate enough. I guess I will soon find out!!
6-9-06
I found out yesterday I was denied due to lack of documentation by the doc and the fact I did not use my PCP for for the diet. I used my endocrnoligst (sp) doc. The insurance guidelines states any physician other than a Bariatric surgeon which is what I did. Yes the insurance company should have been more specific and yes the doctor should have documented better but in the end it was up to me to make sure I had everyting I needed. I failed the first time but I will not fail the seconed time. I had my first of six appointments with my PCP today for the medically supervised diet. I am waisting no time. I explained how important it would be for him to document correctly. My PCP is so wonderful. He really wants to help me. I am thankful for that. It looks like I will finish the diet in Dec. Hopefully I will be approved by Jan and have surgery in Feb. At least this time line seems resonable to me. I should be receiving a letter in the mail from the insurance company next week. I guess Dr. Gibbs nurse Kerri and I will go over the letter and make sure I am on track. The crazy thing is that my mom is more disappointed than I am. Arent moms the best? I have been building myself up for the let down but mom had'nt been and was crushed. Well since I will not be needing all this saved up vacation time for the surgery I am taking off next week. I am going to be spending a lot of time at the pool. I really hope the next six months fly by!!
9/26/06
For the last 4 month I have been on once again, another supervised diet by my PCP. First month I gained, 2nd month I gained, 3rd month I lost 3 lbs. and the 4th month I gained. I am really starting to feel the affects of the weight gain and I have got to get it off. It is really uncomfortable being fat. It hurts to be fat. Your feet, knees, back and hips hurt. Besides that I cant stand to look at myself in the mirror. It is amazing what food can do to the body. I remeber years ago I had a huge weight loss. I was in high school. I ate very little a day and exercised all the time. I looked good and healthy. I try to eat as little as possible and exercise but the weight does not come off anymore. So what happens? You get down on yourself and you want to give up. Basically you gain weight. It is an unhealthy rollercoaster. I truly believe this surgery will give me new life. I cant wait to be able to enjoy life again. I cant wait to be healthy! I should be able to send my diet history to the ins. co. by the end of Dec. I should know it it is approved or denied again by mid Jan and hopefully have surgery in Feb.
