DENIED!

This year I wanted to change my life. I have been debating having this surgery for a couple of years. In January I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. For me, that meant time to do something. I have been trying to loose weight the conventional way. I discovered that it's a rip off. I can't tell you of the thousands of $$ I've wasted on diets. So having surgery is my last resort. I have a brother who is a year younger than I am. I watched him suffer with medical problems for the last 6 years. Mostly because of his weight. My promise to myself was to do something before I ended up the same way. Being diagnosed with hypertension was my wake up call. So I was all excited about changing my life. I did the research, went to the seminars, saw the psy doctor, and did what the insurance company wanted. I was so excited when the letter came. Only to my surprise, it said DENIED. What now? Do I dare fight? I don't know if I have the energy. I am angry and disappointed. Please help me. Is this worth my time? Should I just throw in the towel? Am I destined to go down the road my brother has traveled? Sombody help me! Is this my end?

Is there an exclusion in your ins. Policy? If there is, that May be the end of it, but if not, everyone usually appeals. Fight girl.

Never give up!! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.. if there is no exclusion in your policy then you have to fight the insurance company.. If there is an exclusion in your policy, they should have told you up front so that you would not get your hopes up. Call your insurance company and talk to them, find out why they denied you and find out what you have to do to get approval. BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, DON"T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF!! Best wishes, Rhonda

I hate insurance companies---and even the ppl who make the decisions there don't even know why sometimes. Depending on who you talk to, you may get a different interpretation. Here's an example that isn't related to WLS, but I experienced recently: my insurance pays for my birth control pills, and when i called to find out if they pay for tubal ligation, they do. After talking to my GYN we opted for an IUD instead of tubal ligation (since I iddn't want to risk pregnancy if my pills weren't being absorbed all the way). Someone at their office called my insurance and was told that because my ins. paid for birth control that they would cover the IUD. Well, when I got to checkout after it was in place, they say "okay, that's $776. what?!?!?!?! there was no note that ins. would pay for it. i had to put it on my credit card. when i finally got in touch with my insurance company the lady said "no, that's not listed as a covered service...but go on and submit the claim and maybe we will pay." geez. not only was i angry and frustrated..but even the insurance co. couldn't tell me if it was covered or not.... so who knows what the true end is with insurance companies.

Hi Leola... If it is a covered procedure then I would find out what it is you need to have in order to get approved. I jumped thru hoops with my insurance company and was denied twice before I finally got approved. It was very emotional and very hard to keep on with them but in the end it was all worth it. Dont give up. I have letters if you want them. Good Luck! Christine

Don't give up! I would appeal, if possible and pray like crazy! God will open doors for you. smoochies Arlies

Just piggy backing on what everyone else has said, if there is no exclusion clause, then I would call the insurance company find out what is needed to get approval and do everything exactly as they want. That's what I did. I called the insurance company got them to mail me the list of what was needed and went from there. After I did all that was required, approval was quick. Good luck! Sheri