Heart Valve Surgery Patient & Author, Adam Pick
Blogs About Heart Valve Replacement & Repair Surgery
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“Were You Denied A Robotic Mitral Valve Repair?” Asks Linda

Posted on June 6th, 2009 under Mitral Valve Repair.

I’ll never forget the day I opened the one-page letter from my insurance company, Blue Shield of California, which authorized my double heart valve replacement. I was beyond relieved given the mind-numbing frustration I experienced prior to that moment in dealing with Blue Shield.

I imagine I’m not the only patient that found themselves at war with their insurance company, right?

In fact, I just received an email from Linda which states, “Adam – I need help. I am looking for someone who has had robotic surgery and had it covered through HealthNet. Why? I was recently denied a robotic approach for mitral valve repair through HealthNet and I am in the process of appealing. I know this denial has been overturned in the past and I am looking for anyone who has been successful in doing this. Can you help?”

Given Linda’s question… Can you help her better understand the process for successfully appealing the request for robotic surgery to repair her mitral valve? If so, please leave a comment below. To learn more about mitral valve repair surgery, click here.

In advance, thanks for your help!!!

Keep on tickin!

About Adam Pick – Patient Advocate

A dad, a husband and a patient, Adam founded this website in 2006 to educate you about heart valve surgery from diagnosis to recovery. More...

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James Harper says on June 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

I also have been diagnosed with Mitral valve Prolapse. I will be battling with Kaiser for the robotic surgery approval. so I am very interested in any input from people who have gone through the approval nightmare. Thank you James Harper

Eva Villa says on June 6th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Have you heard of anyone being denied surgery for a tricuspid valve because the arteriogram doctor told the surgion that there would be no benifit. I have leakage of the valve.

I was told to find out if anEP ablation for atrial fibrilation would help the tricuspid valve. What are your thoughts on this?

Larry Larsson says on June 7th, 2009 at 10:51 am

Blue Shield as supplemental insurance to Medicare covered my mitral valve repair using the da Vinci robotic surgery at UCLA medical Center last July. there was no problem at all with Blue Shield.

Larry Larsson

Gayle says on June 8th, 2009 at 1:42 am

After reading about problems with insurance companies I thank God I live in Canada. I not only got my mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve I had 3 holes patched as well all I had to do was pick a date. I found out in june 2007 how urgent it was needed and had my surgery in Sept 2007.