Insurance approval question

 Wanting to know from time that your doctors office submitted paperwork for approval to when u got the approval, how long did it take u guys? Already had a cruise planned prior to thinking about getting the VSG, and it is in August and I will start my 3 month doctor supervised diet next week, which takes me to the middle of June. Feeling nervous about whether to get surgery before or after cruise or will not even be a possibility because of all of the insurance hoops u have to jump through? Thanks!

I was required to complete 6 months of monitored nutrition.  I knew when I wanted my surgery, so I asked my doctor's office to tentatively schedule my surgery for that day.  This was done  3 months in advance of that date.  I received the call that I was approved 2 weeks to the day  after my last nutrition appointment.  I think that my  being  tentatively scheduled for surgery assisted in the relatively quick paperwork submittal and approval process.

 I will give you the same advice I give everyone - call your insurance company and find out what they say.  I started looking into surgery October 3rd last year.  I called my insurance company and found out what their requirements were.

I picked my Doctor and started the ball rolling with their office about a week later.  I set up all of my appointments (Psych eval, etc) before even going to my pre-op seminar.  I had my first appointment with my surgeon on the 25th, and surgery on the second of November.

That said, I knew what had to be done up front, I coordinated all parties including my PCP with his reccomendation and records.  The insurance specialist at my surgeons office are great, but this was too important to me to not manage myself.

There doesn't have to be a lot of drama and emotion around the insurance issue, just take the bull by the horns.

 Thanks for the info. I am scheduling appts. and getting the ball rolling, but I was just curious after the office submits the paperwork, how long did it take to get approved. I just want to have had my surgery done yesterday. so motivated, want to start the extreme weight loss!

 It took me about a week to hear I was approved after the office submitted all of my stuff.

I have United and it took me two months to get approved after everything was submitted.

 Thanks for your input.