looking for info..please please help

good morning everyone.My name is Melissa and im very very new to this site,awesome site I must say.You all seem very friendly and helpfull with each other so im hoping you can help me.Im going to try and make this a short version of my problem so I hope it wont be too confusing. Here it goes.I spent months thinking about having the surgery and on Feb 3 went to the seminar at st rapheals which that night after hearing the Drs speak and talking to Debbie afterwards I had decided without a doubt to do it. I had checked with my insurance carrier back in November (04) if they covered the surgery and they did but after meeting with Debbie last week I was informed that Anthem would not cover it because as of January 1 05 my employer decided to take that coverage out of our plan.Nice of them to tell us that.I was and still am devestated. I guess in a nut shell im looking now at paying for this out of pocket which I must say is gonna really finacially starp me but I so want this and I spent so much time researching every part of this process which I now feel might have been my down fall. I dont know where to turn now and im wondering if anyone has been in the same situation.Please help me!!...thank you

Appeal!!! and if you are willing to keep fighting then go for it. I know few people are fighting for this or Change next insurance if you can do it. I am praying for you! Kathy k

Thank you kathy for the prayers and yes im going to keep fighting.I dont give up on things that easily..lol

Maybe you can appeal to your employer. Let them know you checked into and they notified you it was now excluded. I believe it is up to your employer now if they will cover it or not.

Hi joanne.. thank you for the respose. I have appealed to my employer and unfortunately they arent very sympathetic to my plight because of course the premiums will go up for them, I even offered to pay for the extra coverage on my policy and they were like NOT!!..lol.....so anyway I will keep looking for a way.You have to right?

If your employer has an open enrollment period for insurances and has ANY that will pay...well..you know..switch...if they have a true exclusion effective Jan 1...to WLS now..this might be difficult to get anywhere with, I am sorry to say. You might investigate if they commited a faux pax in failing to disclose changes to you poilicy..that MIGHT be a loophole. I am sorry for the upsetting news...truly hope you find a solution. You might meet with your employer and see if you can negotiate... Sher

H i Sher....Thank you for the response and even though it was disappointing news I still appreciate you being up front about it.Thank you for taking the time to read my post and for the input...Take care

Unfortunately many insurers are dropping the procedure. My doctor mentioned that he had heard this could happen and I was determined to get my surgery done in 2004. Appeal to Anthem, tell them that you had inquired, and felt that you were starting the process back in November, that you had no idea it had to be completed by year end. See if you can get any relief. Good Luck!

Hi Frank... Thank you for the response.I have actually thought of trying that.It doesnt hurt to try right? Thank you for the advice.Its nice to know there are all of you out here to lean on when needed.

Appeal, Appeal, Appeal. Unfortunately, I am going through that process right now, I have hired an attorney and I tell you that money spent has been worth it. The more people that fight back to the insurance company the better, the quicker the insurance companies will learn that this surgery will only benefit them, as well as us, in the long run. Email me if you have any specific questions. Phyllis