Surgery Cancelled :(
It is through a private company..not state merit. Our open enrollment was in December. I tried to explain that to Dr. Burrowes back in December but I guess his vacation was more important than working me in before the end of the year. It's amazing though that someone else (who works for the same company) who got thier approval 2 days before I did got worked in like a week later by Dr. Burrowes's staff. I guess it is who you know and if they are sincerely TRYING to get your surgery. He should have worked me in "just in case"...especially when I made him aware of the situation. It is all just really unfair...maybe I made a mistake with chosing the surgeon I chose, but if BCBS would have told me that the 90 day approval would not be good after Jan 5th then I would have at least TRIED to find another surgeon to work me in in time. The f*cked up part about it is...when they got my lab results back I had some gallstones so he was going to go ahead and remove my gallbladder since I need it done anyway. Now I guess I will have to wait for it to explode before I can even get THAT taken care of. I never realized how much the insurance companies and the doctors don't really CARE about thier patients...it is all about the money.....what a shame!!
Thanks everyone for your advice and support. I did call the insurance commisioner's office and she called BCBS. They told her that THEY had no problem covering the surgery, but because my employer did not take the extra insurance cover specifically for bariatrics that even though they gave me a 90 day approval (which would have ended Feb 17th) that they will not pay for it PERIOD. They wrote in my approval letter something to the extent of " as long as coverage was available at the time of surgery" they would approve me. Well, my policy changed Jan 5th...5 days before my scheduled surgery!! I also called a lawyer that I found on the NAAFA website and he basically said that it would cost me more to file suit than it would to pay out of pocket. It's amazing that an insurance company that I have paid premiums to for YEARS would rather see me dead than to save my life. I guess I am just a number to them. I have had a REALLY bad day and honestly don't see a light at the end of the tunnel. Again, I appreciate all of the replies and well wishes. I wish everyone all the best, but I see no reason for me to waste your time and board space anymore. Ya'll have been so sweet to me and I appreciate that more than I could ever write.......I hope everyone else gets what they want and deserve out of this. I wish you all the best.
Shree 
You need to go to the State of Georgia insurance commissioners website and file a formal complaint for the following reasons:
You were initially approved and it is beyond your control that you were
beyond the timeline.
There is a ethical way people should be treated.
You have worked and waited way too hard.
Your case falls into the "grey" area between the cracks and implore them to please go ahead with this case.
Write your complaint early in the morning when your brain is fresh.
Carefully write out everything you feel and focus on the unethical way
your have been treated.
I pray as I write this that you will be approved for this surgery.
If you are not with Blue Cross in the State of Georgia go to the website for the state you are in. They have a nice long area for you to voice your complaint. I really do think you still have a chance.
Hugs
Lisa
PS I also called a lawyer after my son was not approved and he told me the same crap - that it would cost too much and I did not have a chance. Guess what - He Was Wrong! I was very persistent and ignored him totally and in the end my son was approved. The doctors office was no real help to me either. You are on your own with this.
Shree,
I am so angry and sad for you. But girl please don't give up. Maybe there is a reason that the surgery isn't going to happen Monday. Listen to me. As long as there is breath in your body then you have options and there is always always hope. Is it possible to change insurance companies? Would that mean that you would have to change jobs? Is that something you would want to do? What about taking out a loan. I'm just racking my brain, trying to come up with something that might help you out. Please don't ever give in. This surgery will happen for you if you truly want it, and I believe that you do. Don't ever say you have nothing to look forward too. I completely understand that you are depressed and sad right now. But grieve for the missed chance on Monday. Then pick yourself up and start over. This will happen. Email me and lets talk hun.
Huggss!!!
Tonya Waters
Shree,
I have been thinking about you and your upcoming surgery and was very saddened to see today that it was cancelled. I just can't believe that!! That is just so not right for them to do, not at all. I would think that there has got to be some sort of alternative. Maybe you don't want to hear this right now, but God has a plan for us. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be RIGHT NOW, but that's not to say NEVER. I pray if it's meant to be that it will happen, I truely believe that. I'll continue to pray for you. I know how important this is to you.
Kelly
Don't give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The same thing has happened to me. I have Independence BC/BS. I filed a complaint online with the Georgia Insurance Commiissioner and they told me I had to file with the Pa. Insurance Commisioner's office since my master policy originated in Pa. Also, I have talked with my state senator and he said there was a legislative committee in Atlanta this past week discussing changing the law to mandate insurance to cover the surgerry. Georgia presently has a statute on morbid obesity but it does not mandate insurance to cover it.
I am going to fight this even if it takes every penny I got. It is just not right the way insurance companies are handling this. If this is not discrimination, I don't know what is.
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