Insurance Excluded

Dear Shannon, I almost hate having to post this, but having been a Wal Mart customer service manager for 8 yrs and having many many friends still working there, I 'm also sorry to let you know, that Wal Mart Ins doesnt cover WLS either. They have an exclusion for it. I know I'm not getting any better here, just thought I'd save you the trouble of checking into it. I have two friends with Wal Mart who need this surgery badly and they already tried to appeal and nothing was done. The insurance just says "Sorry. No." Gosh I wish there was something else I could say. My Advice would be, check with some of the people around the local store chains, like Brenda suggested, Winn Dixie, etc ? It's becoming harder and harder to get these insurance companies to cover WLS.. lots of folks take jobs with good insurance just to find out that they "conveniently" have a WLS exclusion written in to make it cheaper for the employer. I think it's just WRONG!!! But you just can't fight it. If it's excluded, you'll hit a brick wall. Oh.. and Shannon, I'm sorry that you don't like your job. I know it's not an easy job and it's not for everyone. I loved it, others hate it. If this is any help, they got EXCELLENT benefits, you can't find those anywhere else around there. Other than not covering WLS, they are excellent as far as your choice of physicians goes. Great Dental and Vision benefits also. And one of the best paying jobs you can get around that area. Hang in there, if you can, the first month is the worst. Take care and Email me if you want to. If you're in Phase1 on the transition team, my old manager Josh is pretty close to ya ~Andie~

At one time the casino in Natchez, MS did pay for the surgery. One of my friends at home told me that their daughter's friend went over to Natchez got a job and waited the three or six months period necessary to be covered, applied and then got it and had surgery. My friend borrowed money to have surgery done for her daughter. She was 22 and had never even had a date in High School, now she is so beautiful and has a couple of really nice guys dating her. I know that Oschner's in NO 's insurance does pay for the surgery. There were at least 10 or 15 staff that I met there that had had the surgery and told me that their insurance paid. Perhaps some of the other hospitals may have the same insurance. I was self pay, Ocean Springs has a package with Dr and hospital, around $18,000. Oschners was about $21,000 plus $4500 for doctor bills. Self pay is pretty good in that if the surgery is more like having to go to intensive care, etc. that is all you pay, no more. Some finance companies and banks will loan that much for surgery. I also know a girl who works for one of the off-shore oil companies, and her insurance did also pay for the surgery. If anyone's husband works off-shore, then they might check into this insurance to see if it will pay...... Vocational rehab is a good resource, you have to be in danger of not being able to preform your job, medical risks that will cause you to lose your job or medically disabled due to your weight problems. They get federal monies but have some limit to how many cases they can pay for in a certain amount of time. There is a class action insurance suit, I read about it on this site, where persons are filing against companies who do not cover this surgery as discriminating against persons who are morbidly obese???? Check out all your options..... Cheryl

Hi, Shannon! I know for sure that Labcorp has insurance that covers it. One lady had the surgery last year, and another lady there told me that she called up the insurance company the other day and they told her that the only requirement was to have a BMI of 35 or higher. They also have a clause in their policy that says they will pay for one bariatric surgery per lifetime. They have four different insurances you can choose from, but the one that I know for sure that pays is United Healthcare EPO. The waiting time for insurance isn't that long either. You have to work for one complete month (from the 1st day of the month until the last day) and then the insurance becomes effective. For instance, if you start Feb. 1st, your insurance becomes effective March 1st. If you start Feb. 5th, your insurance becomes effective April 1st. I think there's a Labcorp in Pascagoula and one in Biloxi. I'm not sure what kind of job you're looking for, but I hope this helps you. Good luck! Jackie