Anyone had success fighting an insurance denial for back surgery?

If the pain hurts real bad, can't get up or walk. Your depressed and might commit suicide or kill someone without intentions, if someone push you. Go to Emergency, ask for a morphine shot. This might get you relief for while. Let the Emergency Doctor either look at your old images. They can at least get new X-Ray, might get a CAT scan. They will not do MRI. If you have copies of you MRI scans and other scans bring them. This will give you more evidence. Ask for a Expedited Appeal from any surgeon who will cooperate.
I was denied from regular Medicare for a Radio Frequency Ablation procedure, when it should have been approved. I actually went to Emergency when I saw my denial four days before procedure. You have to fight fire with fire to get any insurance to do this. My procedure was cancelled. I am telling the truth the pain could cause me to commit suicide. On Friday, I received the approval for the procedure which will be on September 10. It was originally scheduled for August 19. If I followed the normal way of appealing it could be months or next year maybe. Sometimes you have to be proactive +++++ and speak up. Insurance companies save money when then deny. This should get you ideas what you must do, will be praying for you.m!

above problem
I was denied regulat

I am getting a Radio Ablation.both sides of vertebra L3-L5. I have been denied all surgeries and have done PT and other treatments. My scoliosis rotates where they need to operate. This is my last option.
I will pray for you all that are trying to krelieve your pain. where you lost your life. Watching TV all day and night don't get you anywhere. Play card games on your tablet, computer, and smart phone gets your mind off pain. Using forums like this, reliable medical information on the internet, and many useful videos on YouTube. My procedure is September 10. I did a EXPEDITE APPEAL, got approved in less than week after first denial. One source says Medicare denies 53% of first claims!!!

Insurance is an extremely irritating entity to deal with. I have traditional Medicare and a supplemental insurance, not a plan that "includes Medicare". There are many companies whose supplemental plans are very easy to navigate AND Medicare sends your bill to them after they pay their portion. The big thing to remember is that not all services (hospital, dr, etc) accept traditional Medicare but it is worth the aggravation. Take a look at the Medicare Advantage Plans before you change. Make note of which ones cover your needs. Pharmaceutical needs take a huge chunk of our money if we don't have a plan that covers prescriptions. Also, before you make any changes, talk to your medical providers to ensure that they accept the insurance which you are considering changing to OR traditional Medicare. You might be surprised at how many providers do NOT accept traditional Medicare.

Thank you for the advice. I'll definitely do my homework before I change. What is surprising is that the neurosurgeons are aware of the denials from the insurance companies. When I say I have a medicare advantage plan , the surgery scheduler states" We can't get surgical appovals from an advantage plan". If the doctors staff is aware of this problem ,why doesn't someone complain? Does everyone accept the denials?
I'm taking my denial as far as I can. I'm getting new mri's on my lumbar and cervical spine in the next few days. I'm hoping that the radiologist and neurosurgeons agree on my diagnosis. Thanks again for the advise on original medicare and the medicare supplement companies. Any advise on a good medicare supplement provider?

As Medicare season approaches, there will be a lot of places that offer to "compare plans" but they almost always are promoting one company or another.

Here are 2 places I look to for advice, and add it to everything else I read:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/p/best/insurance/medicare/best-medigap-insurance-companies
https://www.forbes.com/health/medicare/best-medicare-supplement-providers/
I can tell you that I live winters in a community of seniors in all economic levels and from across the country - the consensus, especially for those of us who want choices in care - are Blue Cross Blue Shield supplemental plans. NOT Advantage Plans, but those called Supplemental or Medigap.

Here is what we like - the higher cost plans often cover or reduce copays, which lowers the true cost of insurance. Most doctors and hospitals accept them. We can get coverage at home or when traveling. Most plans take over the paperwork for you like the Advantage plans do - they submit the bill to Medicare, then cover their part and bill for the balance. Various levels or prescription coverage are available. You can deal with an independent insurance agent, who is working for you, not a company.

Here is what we don't like - the Pharmacy Benefits are still like the rest of Medicare, and are handled by a Pharmacy Benefit Manager which is a pain.

Ask you family and friends who they use, whether they are satisfied, and if they can recommend a helpful agent.