Beginning the process...be your own ADVOCATE

[Marsh17]

I have been on the web site a few times reading and learning from the posts on the site. They have been very helpful - thanks to those of you that post!!! 3 weeks ago I began the process with the "new patient" visits to the doctors office. One recommendation I have is to be your own ADVOCATE and FOLLOW UP each step of the way with your physicians office and your insurance company. If you need an authorization for a procedure make sure you hear from the insurance company yourself to determine if it is a "pending authorization" or a final "authorization". The physicians office has many patients to follow up on and you only have YOU to worry about. It will make a big difference if you are the driver of the process. The area that seemed to slow the process was ensuring the physicians office received 5 years of medical records from my other physicians. I am going through my insurance company (UHC) and they require a 5 year history.

The physicians office and/or insurance so far has required blood work, nutrition class, on line education (video viewing), Upper Endoscopy (acid reflux), Psych evaluation, Try and get the office to scheduled on your initial appointments and then move appointments as needed to fit your schedule if it changes. It seemed like it takes a minimum of 5-7 business days for results to make it back to the physicians office from each appointment. They then have to compile the information and send it off to the insurance company. All of the paperwork has been submitted to the insurance company and now I am just waiting to find out if it will be approved or what else will be required. Thanks again to all of you that post - the information is very helpful!

[DHB]

Yep, so true. If possible, find a contact at your insurance company. Also...if you are not getting proper attention at the hospital the magic phrase is, "I want to speak to the patient advocate." (My doctor's admin forgot to reserve a bed for me. After 12+ hours in the recovery room with drug addicts & gun shot victims using that phrase finally got me a bed at 11:30pm.)

[Christie13]

Yup. Always have to speak with your insurance company to find out your requirements and then make sure that your surgeon's office follows it to the letter. If not, insurance can deny for any little thing.