INSURANCE ISSUES

Hi Cathy, I have been lurking for a while but this is one topic that makes me especially crazy! The previous posters are right. I tried BCBS and was told I was too fat to be covered in order to have the surgery so I wouldn't be fat! MD mandates coverage for large group policies but the state insurance - which you can get if you are self employed (?) or uninsurable - is written as a small group policy. So MD mandates it for others but skirts the issue for the itself. I applied to BCBS, United Healthcare, Golden Rule, and Mamsi (which I have as an employe thorgh my job by the way). I was rejected by all for an indiviudal policy. In case you missed that, I was rejected by the company I have insurance with already!! I even contacted an insurance broker to see if they knew of some ins and outs that I didn't know. Basically I was told that there was only one policy that had relaxed height and weight requirements and the highest weight they would take was 240. Our comany. just had its open season and I was able to switch to Kaiser Flex Choice. This will allow me to use docs who are in the Private Healthcare System network of providers (much more extensive). Fortunately, my WL surgeon, pcp, and pulmonary specialist, and gynecologist are all on the PHS network. So I am hopefull! My coverage starts July 1! Good luck, I hope something works out. Amari