TEXANS PLEASE READ - U R G E N T

There are so many posts on this list and I read every one of them. Everyone has his own experience and I learn from all of you. I am one who is still looking at the DS with my nose pressed against the glass. No insurance. But I did post my success when I testified before Senator Duncan's State Affairs Committee this week. I accused them this way - There is discrimination against obesity in Texas because if I were anorexic I would already be in treatment. I pointed out where my insurance specifically denies the surgery and again reitereated that discrimination was in play. I REALLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE IN TEXAS TO WRITE THEIR LEGISLATORS NOW. Here is a link to find *****presents you. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm I've opened the door just a tiny bit. Now I plead with you to send your experience to your legislator. If you have an insurance problem - write about it along with the discrimination against obesity statement. If you went overseas, comment about your procedure, what it's done in your life, and make a statement about why you went abroad in the first place. Are we outsourcing our healthcare?? I will post the letter I wrote. Copy any or all of it. Bless all of you for your courage and caring about others. Patrice ----------------------------------------------------- The Honorable Robert Duncan P.O. Box 12068 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711 (512) 463-0128 To The Honorable Robert Duncan, RE: Discrimination in Texas I am sending this letter to you as a concerned citizen in order to call your attention to a serious and pervasive problem in Texas. It is the crisis of discrimination against persons who suffer from the medical condition known as "clinically severe obesity." The condition is also called "morbid obesity." This is a chronic physiological disease suffered by persons who are 100+ lbs over their "ideal" body weight with a "body mass index" (BMI) greater than 40. Morbid obesity is now well-recognized in the medical community as a disease which is likely caused by a number of different factors including genetics, environment, and culture. Being morbidly obese causes or substantially contributes to related co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension and other serious medical complications. It is a life-threatening disease. One treatment endorsed by the National Institutes of Health is surgical intervention. In fact, surgery is now considered the only viable long-term option to successfully treat this illness. Unfortunately, there are numerous roadblocks suffered by persons trying to treat their illness. The first barrier is simply a fundamental disregard for morbidly obese persons by the law and society in general. Barring discrimination on the basis of weight must be made an explicit part of Texas' anti-discrimination laws. Second, a general perception exists that obese persons can simply "cure" themselves by eating less and exercising more. This statement is false. Medical literature clearly shows that constant "yo-yo dieting" actually has severe adverse health consequences. The next major barrier is that a number of health insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and other managed care organizations expressly exclude treatment for this serious medical condition. I, myself have insurance coverage as a retired state employee from ERS and in my coverage the exclusionary clause Paragraph P states: HealthSelect does not cover expenses for: (p.69) P. Weight reduction programs, services, or supplies, surgeries including but not limited to Gastric Bypass or Vertical Banding, or gym memberships, even if the participant has medical conditions that might be helped by weight loss; or even if medically necessary and prescribed by a physician. I believe the exclusion statement is inherently discriminatory against me and the class of persons *****quire this medical treatment. Moreover, this exclusion is actually counter-productive because ample medical evidence supports the fact that loss of substantial amounts of weight generally leads to a reduction or elimination of many co-morbid conditions. We are entitled to have coverage for obesity mandated similar to what the government did for mandatory 48-hour hospital stays for new mothers. I do not believe you would allow an insurance company in this country to expressly exclude the treatment of someone with cancer or heart disease. You should also not allow this form of blatant discrimination against the obese. If I were anorexic or alcoholic I would have no trouble getting treatment. Please use the power of the Legislature to eliminate this unfair, arbitrary and unreasonable discrimination against people suffering from this life-threatening disease. Sincerely, xxxxx I believe in standardizing automobiles, not human beings --Albert Einstein