Hi Sarah !
I also work for the State of Nebraska. I am trying to get the DS and have been denied twice. I am on the final appeal. I had hoped that I would have it approved and done before our insurance changes on July 1st. Now I just hope it will be included in our new benefits. This is the information I have found.   This is what is listed in our “Guide to Your Health Care Benefits for Employees of State of Nebraska".   Surgical Treatment of Clinically Severe Obesity (Morbid Obesity). Surgical treatment is covered if al of the following criteria are satisfied: -The covered person is at least 25 years of age. -The covered person as a Body Mass Index of:             At least 40 for at least three years, or             At least 50 (classified as super-obese), or   Great than 35 in conjunction with documented treatment of a co-existing medical condition of at least one of the following:   Hypertension requiring medication for at least one year. Type 2 diabetes requiring mediation for at least one year. Obstructive sleep apnea, confirmed by a sleep study, which does not respond to conservative treatment, Cardiovascular disease, Pulmonary hypertension of obesity.   -The covered person has a documented history of failure to sustain weight loss with medically supervised dietary and conservative treatment for at least three years,   -The covered person is an acceptable operative risk,   -The covered person has been evaluated by a licensed mental health provider who documents that you are motivated to follow all necessary pre- and post-operative treatment plans.   Preauthorization of benefits are recommended prior to weight reduction surgery.   Morbid Obesity Surgery includes, but is not limited to stomach surgery (gastroplasty), stomach stapling (gastric stapling), stomach bypass (gastric bypass) or surgery for the removal of fat from the belly (panniculectomy and abdominoplasty).     People have been approved for DS in my office prior, but it has been a few years. I’ll cross my fingers for you and hope we both are able to receive this great tool. Let me know if I can offer any additional information to you.
Amy

 Hello - I just had my surgery on Monday, March 22.  I am recovering well, thugh I am very sore.  I had my surgery at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Lincoln, NE, and it was a wonder ful experience!  I'm doing well with my fluids, but am having a hard time getting all the protein I need.  Any advice would be great!  Thanks!

Hello;
I don't know all of your particulars; but if your weight cost you to lose your job and you are at least 50 yrs old, you could apply for Social Security Disability. If approved there would be a two year wait and then you would get Medicare coverage.

This is the path I had to take after trying for six years to have WLS. Once I got my Medicare things moved pretty quick to the point where I had a Panniculectomy, Pacemaker surgery and a DS all in the span of 14 months and Medicare paid for everything. The reason I bring up SSD is that like myself most people only think of Social Security being available when you reach retirement age. When in fact SSD is available once a person turns 50. You still have to be approved but its a better chance than having to deal with these insurance companies. Hope this is of some help; good luck and don't ever give up. The only sure way to lose the fight is to give up.

Hi Nicole;
It may be that Blue Cross covers it but your employer has excluded it from your group plan as a means of reducing their premiums. If you have a Human Resources Dept. where you work; you might talk to them and see if this is the case and whether they could waive the exclusion. I had the same problem; unfortunately I became disabled and lost my job because of my weight. But then I got Medicare and was eventually able to get both a Panniculectomy and a DS done. Good luck and don't give up your health is your most important asset.
Mike

I have blue cross of Texas and they covered mine so read the fine print!