FRUSTRATED WITH MEDICAL MUTUAL!!!! :(

I have been approved for wls on 6/12/03......and then find out they put a exclusion on the benefits.. July 1,2003. A lifetime max of $10,000. Kristy from Kligmans office calls and tells me I am resposible for the rest and it must be paid upfront before I can have the surgery. Which is $17,000! My first consult with Kligman is Dec 9,2003. With him being so busy this is the first available appt. I am also finding out it is not all of Medical mutual plans.... although when I call I get different answers from everyone. I am on super med classic.... I have a friend who is on plus and it does not apply to her and also a friend on supermed select and his is covered totally. I am just wondering if anyone else is having this problem and what if anything are they doing about it? (I also contacted Walter Lindstrom and he said he would not be able to help me....) I feel they should exclude all and not just a few..... and who decides this? Sorry to vent but would like to know some of your views on this. Any help would be appreciated. Shelly Bender----- Fostoria,[email protected]

Hi Shelly, I know it is a terribly frustrating time for you. I'm one of the lucky ones who's been approved under the supermed plus (praise God) and will be cover fully except for an out-of-pocket fee of approx. 500-1500 bucks because my surgeon is out of network. Beleive I understand your pain. My consult was in Jan. and I was just approved 3 wks ago. Many times I wanted to give up and except my destiny. But I didn't and don't you either. Stay in contact with Med. Mutual and keep talking to them until you reach someone who can help you. Write as many letters as it takes until you are satisfied. Beleive me when I say I feel your struggle. You have my prayers and whatever help I can give you. Keith

We have talked...I am in Super Med Plus and was approved May 15, 2003. July 1, 2003 -- the change in policy. Now, I am sentenced to die.....when I thought I finally had a chance to live. Some will celebrate their re-birthday....I can now celebrate my.....I struggle for a name. As I have said to many of you who have written---what does it matter any more. Those of us who are denied just drop away. There is nothing else to do. Only the rich or the lucky get to survive...and I don't deny them that one minute. Don't get me wrong.