Let us all remember that today is November 1st. My supposed surgical date? November 15th, two weeks from today.

That said, I checked in with Kim in Pomp's office just now. Last week she told me that my insurance company had denied coverage because 1. why not a Massachusetts surgeon? What's with the New York City? and 2. the BPD/DS is considered by them to be investigative, and therefore an uncovered procedure. The means of addressing these concerns were 1. insurance company lady was going to research surgeons who do the BPD/DS in Massachusetts, and 2. Kim and Dr. Pomp would pen and fax in a letter explaining the medical necessity of the procedure because of my high BMI, backing their assertion with copies of relevant medical journal articles.

I was to check back around Monday of this week to see what insurance lady had to say, and secretly? To make sure Kim had faxed the letter. I was in their building in the city all day Monday, but was in various testing areas until office hours were finished, so no contact that day. I called several times Tuesday, and even more times yesterday, leaving an initial message for Kim to call me each day, then just continuing to try to get through to her. No dice. I called today, and she answered the phone. The insurance lady has come to the same conclusion as I, which is that there are no surgeons performing the BPD/DS in Massachusetts. Quelle surprise. The letter that was to have been faxed in this past Monday? Not faxed.

So, there is a draft of a letter sitting on Pomp's desk (supposedly), which he won't see until next Monday because he's out of the office. That will theoretically be approved and faxed in to the insurance company then. The turn around time from the insurance company? Hopefully just a few days. Which would put us at one week away from the surgery date. At which point they could still come back with a denial.

If I was not on antidepressants, I would have my head in a giant bag of cheap candy right now. As it stands, I'm going to go Jiffy Lube my car to cheer myself up and spend any cash that could have been spent on food.

I did ask Kim what the next step is, if I receive another denial. Apparently at that stage, Kim calls the insurance company and makes an appointment for Pomp to have an actual (phoned in) mano a mano with the deciding doctor at the insurance company. So we're not at the end of the line. But I'm nearly at the end of my Virgo-y calendar-based anxiety rope.