Question:
Has anyone had a surgury date and final consult with doctor and then and then one day

prior to surgury having the Dr. office say your insurance has denied coverage?    — Linda C. (posted on July 17, 2003)

July 17, 2003
Doesn't your insurance have to approve you BEFORE the surgeon gives you a surgery date? It doesn't make sense for the surgeon to go through all the trouble scheduling surgery, OR time, ordering tests when he/she doesn't know if the insurance will cover wls. Just curious, I don't have to deal with insurance but I'm learning alot about it here at the Q&A board.
   — mary ann T.

July 17, 2003
My surgeon , at least when I had my consult, had the practice of giving a date. He kinda knew who would be approved, and got the ball rolling before you left the office. He ddddid however wait until fairly close to the given date to submit for approval. I got my approval a week before my surgery date. My sister got hers on a Thursday, with her date being the following Monday. I think that unfortunately now the Drs can't predict the way insurance companies are going to work. Friends of mine who previously would have been approved are being denied. Insurance companies are constantly changing their requirements. It's unfortunate, but a sign of them realizing that more and more people are opting for the surgery and it is costing them money.
   — Fixnmyself