BC\BS of LA....Please help!!

Hey everyone, I am from Buffalo, NY, but I have a VERY DEAR FRIEND in LA (I used to live there) *****ally NEEDS this surgery. She had United Health and they would have paid the whole thing...BC|BS is saying NO WAY! Can anyone help me find a way or file an appeal for my friend! She is a single mom with 2 kids...Weighs about 350+ and has femalel hemmoraging issues that will lead to a historectomy or dealth if she doesn't do something. ANY help would be SO appreciated. Blessings to all of you on this site from NY! JK

It's gonna depend on why they are declining... if it's an exception (meaning they will not pay for it) then she may have to change insurance companies. A LOT more info is needed.

I totally understand where you are coming from. I myself need the weight surgery. For over 14 years I worked for BCBS of Louisiana. I can tell you from experience, a person could be dying and the only thing to help them is to have the weight surgery.....BCBS of Louisiana would say NO! The only plan that pays for it is Federal BCBS of LA and that is a self-funded plan. Matter-of-fact, BCBSLA fought not to have the surgery mandated by the legislator to be paid. What is sad, is that a co-worker at BC flew to Spain to have the surgery. She had sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension and back problems. She weighed well over 300 pounds. She was on tons of medication, CPAP machine and missed work from being sick. Now BC has benefited from it because she is no longer on the medication or the CPAP machine. BC is getting off cheap not having to pay for the surgery and plus all the money she saved them by having the surgery. As you can tell, I am very bitter. I have fought my weight my whole life. It is so easy for people who don't have a weight problem to say exercise and diet. If only the insurance companies would rethink things....

I have bcbs and all I can tell you is that she is not alone! They will not pay for the surgery for any reason. You can jump thru their hoops but they are ALWAYS going to find a reason to deny the appeals. It is a bitter disappointment in every aspect. They are content to watch their clients die a miserable death. Shonda