I am trying to find Insur...

I am trying to find Insurance to cover me so I can have the Gastric Bypass surgery done. I work PT so I am not eligible for Insurance coverage. I was trying to go through the State Insurance plan(what a joke!) but they have a very shocking requirement that I can't believe. They want you to diet for 6 months prior to the surgery. If I diet and lose the required 40 lbs. they want to see me lose, I would then be BELOW the BMI and then not eligible anymore!!!!!!!! The dumb broad tried to get me to believe that Surgeons perform the surgery on people who are only 60 lbs. overweight!!!!! I told her she was a liar and that I had been in contact with the RN of the Bariatrics Clinic at my Dr.'s office and she even told me, NO DOCTOR will perform the surgery unless you are 100lbs. overweight OR have AT LEAST a BMI of 40. I sure shut that broad up! All she said was, "Do you have any other questions?" I wanted to ask her how she lived with herself lying to people like that. She even laughed when she asked me if I gained the weight just so I could have the surgery. I found it HIGHLY OFFENSIVE. Any help you can send my way would be appreciated. Ronna Dunigan

HI Ronna, You are lucky they are only asking for 6mos. I would be jumping for joy if I could get that. My insurance is requesting a 12 mos supervised diet all of which has to be documented can you believe that. I had my previous Dr. write a letter, submitted photos and sent every WW book I could get my hands on to hopefully get around it and get my surgery approved. If you have a BMI of less than 40 but more than 35 they normally say you have to have a certain number of co-morbid conditions if it around the 35 mark. Supervised or not I don't think they should make us have to jump through so many hoops for such a beneficial surgery. Closed minds though. Good luck. Cheri

I have exhausted all my options for the surgery because I can't afford to apy $31,000.00 for it myself! I can't believe these hospitals want or expect someone to have to come up with that kind of money either! I am going to do Nutrisystem instaed. I don't have a choice! I am so friggin p-----that I could scream! These insurance companies are such rip off artists!