We really need your help. Please let me know if you have written

Below is the information to write our Senators in Missouri and SB 597 http://www.senate.mo.gov/ On the left side of the page type in 597 for the bill number and press go Click on the link that says: SB597 - Mandate health insurance coverage for morbid obesity Click on the link that says: Committee: Small Business, Insurance & Industrial Relations This will list all the Senators on the committee: You can click on each Senators name and their individual page will come up. In the upper right hand corner of the page is a link to email each senator directly. Please , Please, Please write your Senators...even if you have had your surgery.... Betty Myers

thanks for the address. It is really important for all of us to write the senators. Some of us already had surgery but there are others who need the opportunity to get it if needed. Thanks for reminding us. Colette

I sent a the following letter to all the senators on the committe as well as a few others. This is lengthy for that I apologize. I think that the majority on here can change a few things and it is probably much like the plight we have all suffered to some degree. Anyone that is having a hard time composing something, is welcome to cut and paste and use what they need to of my letter to get something sent. I don't post often but do read almost daily. I haven't forgotten what the support on this board and the friends that I found here when struggling to get the surgery, finally getting approval (with another insurance) and the support I received after my surgery. Good luck to all and please please, take a moment to comply with Betty's request of us all. Betty did you post to main board? If not, I would! The more they get the more they'll think about it, Missouri Residents or not! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Heather 11/3/03 348/168/140???someday??? Copy of the letter I sent follows: I realize that you are very busy, however I would appreciate a few moments of your time to read my appeal for your support for a potentially life saving bill now before the Missouri Senate. I am writing to urge your support of SB597. I have suffered from Morbid Obesity the majority of my life. From the age of four I was considered overweight. The emotional effects of this disease are to complex to cover in this email. The physical effects of this disease are life threatening and debilitating. Between 1999-2001 I developed high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and Gastric Reflux and Edema. I was taking 10 medications a day and not getting any better. I struggled to breath, struggled to get out of bed and go to work. Everything in my life required extra effort. My doctor suggested I research and consider gastric bypass surgery to save my life. I had been on virtually every diet, diet pill, medically supervised diets, all with limited results. I was 165 pounds overweight. I was considered Super Morbidly Obese I was 36 years old, with a young son and husband. I started researching the procedure and my doctor sent in a letter to my insurance company. They denied my surgery as my policy at that time Blue Cross and Blue Shield Alliance, had a written exclusion with NO coverage for anything related to Morbid Obesity. My company changed insurance plans in 2003. This insurance covered the procedure. I had gastric bypass surgery performed November 3, 2003. I weighed in that morning at 348 pounds and I am 5' 4" tall. I was 38 years old. Today I am approaching my 41st birthday, I now weigh 168 pounds. I no longer take ANY medications other than daily vitamins and an occasional Tylenol. I have normal blood pressure, normal blood sugar and no longer use a Bi-Pap machine for Sleep Apnea, I no longer suffer from Edema or GERD. I walk 1 1/2 miles at 4 am every morning before I get ready for work, I play basketball with my son. I am a better mother, a better wife, a better employee. I am healthy, I am productive, and I urge you to give others this opportunity. The Internal Revenue Service has identified Morbid Obesity as a disease and you can claim tax credits for weight loss expense. Medicare has recognized and stated that Morbid Obesity is a disease. Medicare pays for gastric bypass procedures and most State Medicaid programs have begun to pay for this procedure and reduce their future cost by reducing the co-morbid conditions associated with morbid obesity. Morbidly obese patients suffer from a disease, what other disease do we allow insurance companies to deny payment for? Certainly not cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lupus, or the millions of other diseases that our citizens are afflicted with. In a country where morbid obesity is on the rise and studies have shown is quickly becoming one of the number one killers of our citizens, patients suffering from this disease are denied treatment. Discrimination is such a huge factor in this disease. I have suffered from this discrimination my entire life, however until I was "normal" I did not realize the extent in which I had suffered. Obese people are not lazy. When I weighed 348lbs, I worked full time as a financial controller for a construction firm, assisted with our family business, served on my child's school board, served as the commissioner for our local summer ball program servicing 125 kids ages 5-16, was active in my church, active with my family and with life. Now that I am of a healthy weight, I still do all of these things. I am now healthier and I am going to live longer to continue to be a productive member of my community. Since my procedure my company has changed health insurers again. This time we changed to save money on premiums, I reviewed 10 policies before changing. All ten policies had a written exclusion for any coverage or treatment of Morbid Obesity. No other disease has a written exclusion, only procedures that are considered elective procedures are excluded, plastic surgery, sexual transformation, laser eye surgeries, etc. I currently pay around $400.00 per month for my families health insurance coverage, this does not include my premium, which my employer pays. My husband is 39, suffers from morbid obesity, has high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, bad knees, (Knee replacement is in the very near future) he takes 11 different prescriptions per day. All this would be alleviated if we had coverage for the disease that is creating all of his other health issues, morbid obesity. There are thousands of people suffering and dying from the devastating effects of morbid obesity. These people currently pay pay exorbitant insurance premiums to companies who deny treatment for the disease that is ultimately going to put them in an early grave. I urge you to please consider supporting SB 597. My regards, Heather Easterday

Just a note on this. I went ahead and sent to my district representative. I just got a response that my house rep has now read the senate bill, and feels he can support it when it comes to a vote in the house. Just wanted you all to know that it might be helpful to go ahead and contact your house representatives. Even though the house bill number will change they still need to be aware of the SB and need to know from their VOTERS what we would like to see them support. Heather

I wrote email to all of the bariatric surgeons listed for Missouri on this website. Maybe there are some not listed that others know about. Who better to speak for us but an expert? Nurses could write ,hospital staff etc... We need to continue to rally and be heard. Discrimination is discrimination no matter what shape it comes in. Example-my insurance policy covers anorexia,bulimia and drug/alcohol treatment but spefically excludes treatment for obesity/morbid obesity. The message is very clear. Dannielle Robertson