Elective Surgery?

I work full-time.  I sent in my papers for short term disability prior to my surgery.  Today,  I get a phone call from the company that handles our disability.  She asked me if my surgery was medically necessary or if it was elective.  I said, "Well, the insurance company paid for it in full, so I guess that's considered medically necessary, right?"  and "I had to have it to prevent future health problems".   She hemmed and hawed and said that they don't consider it medically necessary, that it falls into the same class as cosmetic surgery and they won't pay for disability while I was out of work.   She did say that if I could get a letter stating that it was medically necessary, I could send it in and they would reconsider.   I'm just a little taken aback by this.  I thought if your doctor wrote you up as disabled, then you were disabled and that was that.   Anyone ever heard of this happening or has it happened to you? 

I have a disability insurance policy through my union.  I submitted a claim for the 2 weeks  I was off of work and they paid me without any questions.   Guess it all depends on the company handling the claim.  I hope that you can get this resolved and receive the money that is due you. Sally

WOW!  I'd get a letter from the doc stating that it was a medical necessity for sure!!!  It is ABSOLUTELY NOT COSMETIC!

It's temporary disability, I believe... Good luck, sweetie!

Bariatric Surgical Associates & Dr Cole sent a letter to Wegmans headquarters to the disability department and they paid me for the four and a half weeks I was off, no questions asked. I would fight this, my friend! You are entitled to get disability for the time off. I would also check your company's handbook, to see if you followed everything to the letter. Good luck! Jen Halliday

The silly thing is, I applied for the temp. dis. because I wasn't sure if I would be out of work for a full three weeks or not.  You have to be out for eight days before it even goes into effect...so if I were to miss 15 days, I'd only be paid for seven.  Well, I did so well after surgery, that I ended up only missing nine days of work...which means I'd only end up getting disability for one day!  When I realized that, I decided that I really don't need to worry about it and I wish I'd never even sent in the papers.  I only sent them in to be safe, just in case I ended up out of work longer.  D'oh!  So, I don't think I'm going to do anything.  We're talking about one day, and they don't even pay your regular wage...so they can keep it. 

Of course it's medically necessary. My insurance company called and asked me the same question, I had the surgeon write a note and I don't go back to work til this Monday *8/27) and my surgery was on 7/12. I could have gone back 3 weeks ago physically, but if the doc said I needed 6 weeks who am I to question his advice?