Will insurance coverage be mandatory if...

If this bill is passed during the 2005 General Assembly for GA, with the changes indicated in the full text at http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/search/hb43.htm , will this mean that insurance coverage is mandatory for morbid obesity and specific exclusions are not allowed? It's how it reads to me, but you never know with the verbage of these things where a loophole may lie. Does anyone know the best way for us to push in support of this bill passing if that is the case? Melissa

Melissa, This law is already enacted, but I believe they are updating it so the insurance companies such as BCBS of Ga who are not wanting to cover it in 2005 will have to cover it. I am glad because it is requiring them to cover it and I believe the representatives are also realizing it would be cheaper for insurance companies to pay a large amount now and cover the surgery versus years and years of comorbidities for us such as high bp and diabetes. I read it the same way you do though Melissa that they will cover it. If you find out how to push support, I would love to help. D'Lynn

Yes, you're right, it has already been enacted, but they are changing the verbage from "May offer" to "shall provide." So I'm thinking this will make coverage mandatory for all insurance policies.. rather than that they must offer it but give the exclusion to certain policies if companies choose not to purchase the additional benefits. I'm just wondering am I correct, or will this still be an "optional" benefit once the wording is changed?

I have a friend who is a police officer and is currently taking a class in constitutional law. I will ask him if he knows the verbage difference of may offer and shall provide. I am like you, I believe this will require them to provide it..just that one word "provide" can change a lot in my opinion, but like hinnies, we all have one. I hope it will require them to cover it....I believe it will help people in the long run especially the ones with comorbidities. Let me know what you think, I will investigate as well. D'Lynn

I checked out this same legislation in 2002, when I was turned down. It seems they keep trying every year to get it heard. I do hope they get it passed one day soon. The verbage mean they now can offer obesity treatment if they choose to do so, but the new lanaguage would "require" the insurance to cover it.. I believe we need to write our legislators, but I don't know who. Let me know who and where to write and I'll do my part. Loretta

If you know which district you are in send an email, and write a letter and call to your rep. letting them know it's important for this to pass. If everyone writes our reps they will know "we are serious" Let's take a stand for what we know is right. Let's start writing folks Michelle

From what I have been told by the insurance commisioner's office is that if this law passes this year that insurance companies will be REQUIRED to cover treatment of bariatrics including surgical procedures. Since the AMA has declared that obesity is now a DISEASE and not a condition they must not exclude the treatment of morbid obesity. If you go to this site http://www.house.gov/ you can put in your zip code and it will tell you who YOUR representative is and contact information. Right now I am trying to find out who led the bill proposal so I can be in contact with them. In the meantime, PLEASE write a letter to your representative explaining how important this surgery and treatment is. Even if you have already had surgery PLEASE do this for those of us who have not been able to. I am pushing this hard....ok, so I am PISSED OFF!!! *lol* I have made contact with some of the local news teams, but unfortunately I am not getting call backs from them. Does ANYONE have any insider connections that I could call. I will take this to the media, the government and even the White House if I have to. This has to stop here!!! *holding fingers in the air* and thanks for your support hehehehe. Shree

I don't know if I understand things differently, but I don't think it's the insurance companies that have to cover it - most of them already have a provision for it - but it's the purchasers of the insurance that need to make sure they purchase this provision!!! I have Blue Cross of California through my employer and we will still have this provision in our policy. (I've checked because I was worried about my follow up visits being covered.) I was told not only are we continuing this provision - they are adding an inclusion to this provision that will help cover the cost of reconstructive surgery (Skin removal). For those that are still wondering the differences I have a PPO that allows me a lot more freedom than an HMO offers also.... Insurance is so confusing!

I just sent a letter to my representative. Go to the site Shree provided. It's easy to send a note to your rep. Share your feelings about WHY this is important. I would suggest you try to be brief. I fear they will not take time or Have time to read extremely long requests. Get your thoughts together...Use few words to pack a powerful request. Stand up and be counted. Reference HB 43.

Melissa, According to the new verbage, yes it will REQUIRE the insurance companies to cover morbid obesity. I checked with my friend who knows about the verbage and the law. If it goes from may offer to shall provide, that is a MUST. I still recommend the letters to the respresentatives. D'Lynn