Urgent - re: Insurance and future WLS approval

Just wanted to share what is going on in FL (and some other states covered by this company) - If you feel like showing support, I'm sure any and all letters would be appreciated. This was posted on 02/03 03:16 PM by my WLS surgeon, Dr. Barry Haicken. Dear Friends: As promised, here is the name of Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Fla.: Robert Lufrano, M.D., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, P.O. Box 1798, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0014. He sent me a notice of Exclusion of Coverage for Morbid Obesity Surgical Procedures. The effective date is Jan. 1, 2005. They are obviously running up a flag to see if there will be an outcry of anger. There should be. They are simply washing away a major health care issue, and saying that they will no longer pay for the ONLY option which works for this disease. There is a great deal of prejudice against obese people. Nobody will stand up for YOUR rights. Folks, if you don't make noise, nobody will. Please write to this fellow often and be aggressive. Tell your friends. Spread the word on the internet, at work, at meetings. BC/BS pays for this surgery in New York, Calif, Ohio, Alabama, and on and on. BC/BS of FL is simply trying to save money at the expense of YOU and your health. They claim to be a non-profit, but clearly this is financially motivated behavior. Many insurance executives feel (or at least state) that obesity if a life style decision - not a disease. They suggest that obese patients simply diet and exercise..."it's easy, if you are motivated". It is proven that once the BMI is over 40, diet and exercise will not work. Surgery is the only proven, effective treatment for long term, significant weight loss. Please write and be active, All of the other insurers in Florida are watching the response to Blue Cross's initiative. No uproar, and they will all follow, thus effectively denying the morbidly obese of important insurance coverage. Sincerely, H -- Barry Haicken