Employer Potentially Switching Insurance During Pre-approval for Surgery

Background: 36, Ohio, $42,640 gross income for me, household is 84,240

I currently have health insurance through my employer, and I've been working since November of 2023 to get a surgery scheduled. I finally got a date in February 2025 and the surgeon is supposed to start the 3 month pre-approval process in November for a surgery date in February of next year.

Problem: My employer's HR warned me that they are considering switching insurance providers. In November we'll have open enrollment for either a new year of our current insurance, or a new insurance provider. If they change insurance providers it will take effect January 1st of 2025. I know a new insurance provider won't be beholden to an approved pre-authorization from the old provider, which makes me think I might end up having to delay my surgery and re-start the pre-authorization process. This is especially compounded by the fact that I expect I may have to appeal a denial.

Is there anything I can do about this to be proactive other than delay my surgery until later in the year? I really don't want to be strung along trying to repeatedly reschedule my surgery if I have to appeal denials and/or my employer decides to spend a few years insurance hopping.

submitted by /u/Foxarris
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