Insurance Trouble

I am new to this board and new to forums in general. So please forgive me for any mistakes. I started thinking about having this surgery over a year ago. I have watched my mom Melanie go through an RNY almost 2 years ago and come such a long way. So I decided that I would really push to get the surgery now. I knew that a year ago when Dr. H officve called my insurance that they would cover it with all the proper paperwork or a BMI of 40 or greater. Well I called my insurance in hope that since it had been a year since we (Dr. H office and I) had talked to Zenith Andministators(through Local 558) that things would have changed and that surgery would seem a little more within my reach. Well I found out that things had changed and that now they don't cover ANY type of weight loss surgery but they don't cover and weight loss drugs either. Basicly you are left out in the cold if you have weight problems. So now what I am trying to do is figure if I should fight the insurance on it or see about getting a new insurance.The battle I am going through in my head is I know that I am not YET at the stage where it is life or death. But I have seen my grandfather, uncle, and now my mom all have to have the surgery. And really don't want to wait till it is life or death. If I change to a different insurance does anyone know of one that I can get for less then 200 a month that will cover the surgery. I know I will still have a battle to fight to get it done without having a BMI of 40 or greater but with my ins. right now it is totally out of reach for me. An help on trying to get this done would be of great help. Thanks Ruthie

Ruthie, You might talk to Dr. Hornbostel's office and ask if any local Sedalia companies have insurance that covers WLS. They might be able to help you. I don't think a private insurance would work for you because it would be too expensive and also they would try to exclude WLS as a pre-existing condition. Lana

Ruthie... Lana gave you excellent advice. Sometimes working "backwards" and backtracking which insurers HAVE covered it and have paid is easier than trying to find a good job and then HOPING that their coverage covers it. If all that made sense! I don't know of a stand alone purchaseable (is that even a word?) policy that would cover it. Most individual policies are SOOOOOOO exclusionary in all realms that they don't cover most "normal" maladies that most people have. They are basically for folks in excellent health who are just hedging their bets in case something bad happens.... I know that sucks doesn't it? Hope you hear better news! Pixielf~