Your company stopped covering WLS?

If so, would you be willing to talk about what it's like to have company insurance but not be covered when your life is threatened by morbid obesity? I may be able to get this issued covered by the Tucson paper (Star), but need to have my ducks in a row with a number of contacts who are willing to speak out about being turned down before I pursue it. Let me know if you're someone who is willing to come forward and speak about the losing battle to get your company to cover this. - Stephanie J

Employees who work for the State of Arizona have an exclusion for weight loss surgery, and so far, I do not believe they have approved anyone since our insurance contract was renegotiated last fall and Cigna got dropped. I am a State of Arizona employee, and have been told by Scottsdate Bariatric staff that the State absolutely does not want to have weight loss surgery approved. Not only that, but the agency I work for has been working on a new department order stating that sick leave is to be monitored extremely closely by supervisors, and that we will be limited to 5 unscheduled absence occurences (one can be a day or series of consecutive days) in a rolling 12 month period. Unscheduled early departures from work are included because they have the same adverse impact on staffing levels and overtime. Employees who are put on Chronic Absence Classification after those 5 sick call-ins, are subject to corrective action using progressive discipline. So tell me why they won't take seriously all of the co-morbidities caused from being morbidly obese and approve weight loss surgery so that we can become healthier and have fewer sick days a year? Why can't they see that in the long run they will save themselves money? Just the last few months, my insurance has forked over approximately $4,000 just from my sleep apnea diagnosis - and that's only ONE of my co-morbidities! This is insane.

I am a state employee also, and a patient at Scottsdale Bariatric Center. There is not an exclusion for WLS for us, there are just very strict guidelines. Tish told me there have been approvals since the insurance changed back in October. I'm not sure who told you that there was an exclusion, but you might want to recheck with ADOA. I have a contact for UHC members if you need it.

Great article topic!! My company will have WLS excluded from their policy when they renew in June - next month. I was fortunate enough to have my surgery in March - before the 5/31 deadline. More and more companies are excluding it now. That is SOOOOO not right!!!! Hugs, Trisha

It is crime that Az does not have some legislation saying WLS can not be a exclusion from an employeers insurance packages. In Calif. it is not legal to have WLS exclusions. We need to work together...and get some legislater (sp?) to help us introduce a bill to the state. Do you think Jane Napalintano (sp?) would listen if we asked for an appointment to see her? Someone has to go above the heads of others to get this done. I have no political ties. Can anyone help us? Sandy in Tucson

Steph I will give my e-mail to my boss at TUSD...she said ok to be interviewed.....please e-mail me your home phone so she can call you on this today..........Sandy in Tucson You never answer your cell.......I can come over tomorrow mid-day if your home. ok

Hey Sandy, I've got an optometrist appt at 2:10, but can be at home earlier. Just let me know what time you're stopping by and I'll try to be here. You've got my home phone number. Feel free to give it to your boss. I'd love to hear from her. - Stephanie

Hi, I would be willing to share my story if it could help and somehow shed light that this horrible thing is happening all over... Two years ago I worked for the largest staffing company in the World as a recruiter, a International Company... and had United Health Care PPO as my insurance provider. I sent in my request for bastric bypass surgery and it was denied. I appealed it and sent in all my medically necessary information and it was denied again. I went for more tests and sent in a 2nd appeal with more backup and again was denied. At this time I was told my company had a clause in their plan that said that they do not cover any weight loss surgery whether it is medically necessary or not, no if's and's or but's about it. I contacted my corporate HR department to see what could be done and spoke to someone who was extremely rude and basically told me I was SOL... I couldn't believe that my company would rather pay for all my care due to being morbidly obese verses paying for the surgery. The only other option at that time was to contact an attorney, but I got another job instead. They covered it and I had my surgery on May 9th. =) I hope this helps, but feel free to contact me with any questions you have.