Age discrimination & Teachers Insurance

I need help resolving a serious problem. I had my RNY surgery last March and already 5 pounds away from my goal weight of 150. But I'm not here on this message board for myself but to help my sister. She is 320 pounds and a school teacher in a small Mississippi town. Teachers insurance has an iron clad NO WLS policy. She has applied for Vocation Rehab assistance because at her weight, she's soon not going to be able to teach due to knee and hip pain & damage. Not to mention, just physically not being able to really get down to the students level. But darn it, VocRehab have suspended their surgeries possibly due to the problems after the hurricaine (which both my sister & I totally understand but still are dissapointed) and retraining the thousands of people that lost their means of making a living Apparently there are only 2 doctors in Mississippi that will accept VocRehab WLS patients. She's currently on both of their waiting list. Well, up till Friday when one doctors office called her at work and told her she was disqualified for the surgery because of her age!!! She's a very young 61. She was devastated and had a mental & physical meltdown at work and her husband had to come get her as she was unable to continue at work not to mention drive herself home. I told her to sue the uncaring doctor for age discrimination but she said even if she did win the case and he had to do the surgery she didn't want him to even speak to her not to mention operate on her body. I need to know how many of her fellow Mississippians have had the surgery who are above the age of 60??????? Also, are there any teachers out there who have been able to get Teachers insurance coverage for the surgery??? Thanks for your help. BTW, I never for one minute regret having my surgery after a lifetime of being fat and hope & pray my sister can enjoy the same freedom. Private replys are OK: [email protected] Rebecca RNY 13 Mar 2005 Pre-weight 242 now 155 Becca Gary & Rebecca Schuppener Konza Pugs & Morgans, Holton KS http://www.konzapugs.com "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind" Dr Suess

Rebecca, I don't know of anyone with the state's insurance that has been able to get them to pay. According to my doc's office, there is just no budging. Voc Rehab is about a 2 year wait once you get the process started from what I understand. That doesn't really help your sister. It is a little more difficult to get the surgery past 60. There are just more complications seen with this age group. I'm not being negative, or judgemental, just stating what I've been told! So don't take that the wrong way please! I suggest that the quickest and easiest (although alot more painful) thing to do is consider a self-pay program. I know people who have taken a home equity loan to pay for the surgery, and others who have just borrowed the money from the bank. The payments are much like a car note. Most docs give a significant discount for self-pays. I hope and pray the best outcome possible for your sister. HUGS Kimberly

I don't know what to say to help you, but I know a guy that is 66 that was turned down for age too. He is gonna try to get on at Keesler since they don't have an age policy, but even so, they still will do an evaluation to see if he is a suitable prospect for the surgery. If I hear of anything, I will let you know. If you could talk your sister into joining us on this board, we will encourage and support her as much as we can. smoochies Arlies

I am a MS teacher and our insurance wouldn't even think of touching it. I went through VR and was so lucky. I applied in August and had my surgery in April. That was before people caught on to VR and the waiting lists got so long. I didn't have any trouble getting approved. Actually it was the easiest thing I have done. I didn't know, however, that they discriminated against age. It seems to me if she is working and has to be employeed that they would help her. That seems very wrong to me and maybe she could file a claim with the American Disabilities Association or whatever it is called. No matter her age, she deserves the right to be part of it just like everyone else. I would fight it. What can she lose? Keep us posted. Kitsy 253/151/142