Getting Pre Approval

All this talk about the cost to pre-authorize and whether more health insurers and doctor groups can figure out a way to stop getting in the way of care and remove authorization has me questioning my own authorization behavior. In my house, I’ll admit there are times I just go ahead without so much as a heads up. Take Tuesday – I went to play hoops to burn off some energy. Didn’t get pre-approval, didn’t pre-notify, and while it was generally no big deal I missed a college prep meeting I agreed to 3 weeks ago. Then last night I ate the Key Lime Pie Bridget’s friend had made for her. I mean, it looked lonely in the fridge at 10 o’clock, even if it wasn’t mine to devour. So, here I sit on a Friday morning, my so-called Gold Card revoked, and a corrective action plan likely coming. And much like that oncology practice that needs to give the insurer’s case manager a heads up, I suppose at 49 I still have a few things to learn about the merits of authorization. I need to be managed sometimes.