GA State Merit--Please join me

I am employed through the State of Georgia and I am very ANGRY to learn that our Insurance no longer covers WLS even if it is medically necessary. WOULD THEY NOT COVER A PROCEDURE THAT WOULD REPLACE A LUNG DAMAGED BY CANCER OF AN EMPLOYEE WHO SMOKED??? IT IS RIDICULOUS. Do they not see that Obesity is a disease, just like any other disease and needs to be treated just as seriously. In my opinion, Georgia Employees, are the pillar of the State because as Employees of GA we are either teaching the children of the state, defending the children and citizens of the state, and/or listening to and solving the problems of the citizens of the State and we HAVE TO BE HEALTHY to do so. We are very under paid and over worked; the least that they could do is offer us a GENEROUS INSURANCE PLAN. When I obtained BCBS of Georgia through State Merit they covered WLS and now when my physican has deem it medically necessary for me to have WLS, they tell me it is EXCLUDED from my policy. I really think that every OBESE Employee of Georgia needs to start some sort of Petition so that our Employer will know that we are outraged about this EXCLUSION. I mean come on....If LOWE's can offer it to their employees, I am sure that the State can come up with enough funds to offer it to us. If you have insurance through the State Merit System and you are as outraged as I am. Please email me personally at [email protected] or respond to my post. Maybe together, we can do something that will make a difference. If I offend anyone, please forgive me but I am so DAMN Angry.

I'm with you on this because my BCBS did not pay for mine either. I had to pay cash for mine because one way or another I was going to gaine my health back. I paid just a little over 18,000.00 for my surgery. I had it done July 27,2006 and I'm really happy now. Take care and good luck! Dorothy (Jeannie)

Hi Lashell Make sure you use all your appeals and get out to vote - it'll make a difference! Good Luck! DSGAGirl aka SexyEyes

Hi, I work for RR Medicare and our office carries BCBS of SC, and they don't cover it either. and WE are an insurance company... I was fortunate as My hubby works for Post Office, and BCBS of Ga Federal covered mine... It doesn't make since though why in the world does federal cover it but not regular ga? I am so sorry.. Like Jeannie , kenny and I had decided if my coverage was declined that we would do a loan against401k, however it worked out and mine was covered. Let me know if you get a petition together, as there are literally about 10 girls i work with that really really need the surgery(docs have sd this) and are so discouraged.

hi lashell, i to worked for the state,retired now, but i have also wanted why the state would not pay for weightloss, but they would rather pay for my expensive meds i need for my high blood presure,sleep apena,gerd and other medical problems i have, most of them due to being overweight. i have tried all kinds of ways to loss weight, nothing i've tried help,i am too are very angry.

I teach in GA and also have state merit. It didn't cover my surgery back in May. I wanted it so badly I chose to pay cash for it. The best $20,000 I ever spent. I may be paying on it for quite some time but my new life is worth it. From what my research showed it appeared the numbers of wls is growing so much they chose to exclude it. Best of luck. If you get a petition together I would definately sign for ya. Mandy 332/239/155?

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!! Im also a state employee, they cut us from a department of 5 to 2.... no raise for 2 years and insurance gets worse every year!!!!

I'm a bariatric surgeon in Augusta. We are facing this difficulty from most insurance companies. We need to start a grassroots effort and target a state congress person to lobby in order to introduce a bill to make it illegal to deny WLS when medically necessary. These kinds of actions have been done in other states. It is very frustrating for everyone, particularlly the patients. If anyone has some expertise in the state legislative system and wants to take it on, I will lend professional support along with many of my collegues. I think that that things will eventully change now that CMS recognizes obesity as a disease. But this will take time. Don't give up and when you can change plans at next open enrollement do so to a plan that will cover it. Good luck. I can be contacted if necessary at 706-738-3359. Michael W. Blaney, MD FACS

Lashell, My husband and I was lucky that we had the surgery before the coverage was no longer provided. State Merit actually hasn't covered it for several years and according to my husband's HR department this is an exclusion that the state has wrote into ALL the policies they have. This includes Blue Cross (HMO), which was the only one almost 3 years ago that would pay when we signed up for open enrollment I had called them all and it was the ONLY one, now Blue Cross doesn't cover it. There are MANY state employee's that have been effected by this and like Dr. Blaney had posted above it will take a voice of people and someone in a position who can get some laws changed. I would seriously talk with your HR department as well and voice your concerns about the coverage, if enough state employees do complain maybe this can be changed. It's certainly not fair that many people can't get this covered and even those who aren't state employees. Don't give up and if you ever need anything let me know, even though I've had surgery this is something dear to me, everyone should have an option to improve their lives. Amy [email protected]

Amen. The part that makes it really tough to understand is that prior to July 1 2005, they covered it. Luckily my wife had hers done June 30 2005. I am looking into hiring a lawyer to sue for it if they don't budge. I think that if the Federal Gov't, as tight as they are, will not only cover it, they soon will be covering the BAND as well. It is ridiculous.