New to forums, Insurance questions

Hi.  I find this whole thing very perplexing.  I've researched WLS for the past few years and it amazes me how it is still acceptable to discriminate against obesity.  I've lost weight (up 75lbs) several times and always manage to fall out of a routine and put the weight back on.  Now I weigh over 300lbs and have trouble doing enough exercise to maintain and keep my blood pressure down enough etc.  In 2005 when I first went to Cleveland Clinic to an informational seminar I thought some type of bariatric surgery might be a good option for me.  When I questioned my insurance company, United Healthcare, I was told that it was excluded from my employer's plan and that it was not a covered procedure.  I was in the process of getting married so I figured I would have to try and fight that battle later.  Well, 6 weeks later I was laid off and had COBRA and knew there would be no fighting it then.  My husband is starting a new job and we will (FINALLY) have some insurance again.  We are going to have BCBS option deluxe, I believe.  I have read online that BCBS felt that bariatric surgery was too risky a surgery and would no longer cover it as of 2005.  I've seen some people post that they were approved through BCBS in Florida.  Is there anyone out there who could provide insight on this.  Are they keeping it a secret that they will cover it in some cases?  It seems to only make sense that if someone is willing to do something like this and have legitimate background for it (obesity related health issues, earnest attempts at weight loss etc) that it would be more cost effective in the long run. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, Beth

BCBS of Florida does NOT cover the surgery---its BCBS from other states where the policy holder lives in Florida----those people are somewhat successful in getting approval.
There is an insurance forum
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/insurance/a,messageboard/board_id,5363/
You might want to post your question there too.

Beth, I have BCBS of Fl state employee and it was excluded but with documents and letters I was approved.  I was given a list of things I needed to provide to be approved.   It depends on the contract your company has.  Also mine was if it was medically necessary, Who would do this if it was not medically necessary.LOL.  Anyway, again it depends on the contract if it is covered or not.  Check the policy when you get it.  Also you Doctor will assist with this when you pick one.  Good luck Sandy

Thanks for the replies.  I really didn't want to get involved in researching or doing any consultations if I knew there was no way for it to be covered.  It is just too difficult, emotionally, to invest in research only to be let down.  My husband and I have struggled financially since we got married in November 2005 (both laid off and out of work for a while) so there is no way for me to self pay. Hopefully I will have some chance at getting it covered.  I will just have to wait until I get the insurance and review my policy. Thanks for your help, Beth

Well, I found out that the company my husband just started working for is probably going to be changing the insurance.  Now I am just going to have to wait (the standard 3 months) and see.  We haven't had a lot of good luck in the employment/financial department since we've been married but I am keeping a positive attitude and KNOW that it is going to improve.  He just started this week and he seems to be happy there so far.  I am very happy about that. As far as insurance, I guess I am sort of stuck and just going to have to try and continue to lose weight on my own with diet and exercise.  It's very difficult and discouraging when you want to lose a great deal of weight (160lbs!) but I am going to do my best.  I know that the surgery is just a tool.  Unfortunately, it's a very expensive tool that is difficult to acquire.  I don't have any insurance right now but even when I did they didn't cover any type of medically supervised weight loss or anything like that any way. The only other thing I can do if insurance will not help me is clean up my credit, get my school loans paid off and take out a loan for the surgery 5 years from now.  Although, maybe I should win the lottery.  Then I could help out a few other people along with me.  Now that would be the best, to be able to help others. Anyway, thank you for the replies.  I am starting to see that for some the challenge is quite a long (and tough) road.