devastating news:(

Hi to you all,,, just wanted to let anyone know who is employed by the State of GA and has been avidly been learing about bariatric surgery- I found out some horrible news today. I had PPO insurance and since it is open enrollment, I had planned to switch carriers to HMO so that my daughter and I could have the RNY. Called to get info from HMO provider "Blue Choice" and was told that they will no longer pay for Bariatric Surgery! I then phoned Cigna (another option) and an extremely helpful lady informed me she had been receiving calls all day long regarding open enrollment and the coverage of bariatric surgery. Seems the good ole state of GA has decided it more cost effective and healthy to be morbidly obese than to pay for bariatric surgery. Therefore, they placed an exclusion clause on it, even if medically necessary. This was signed in 01/05, to become effective July 1. The very helpful lady from Cigna had so many calls today, she said she even still had it up on her screen and read the clause to me! Being persistent, not that I doubted her integrity, I proceeded to call the other possible insurance providers for the State Merit System - and lo and behold - they all said the same thing! In tears, I had to call my 21 year old daughter (who is on blood pressure medication, diuretics, and pain meds for her back) and inform her that she will not be able to have this surgery. I'm not posting this for pity or to be bleak, only posting so that if any of you are planning to change insurance for this surgery, you should contact the potential provider to learn if they will pay before you actually switch insurance companies. Good luck and weight loss to you all!~.... I shall be moving to FLA soon, hopefully in the next 2-4 months hopefully to find an employer that cares enough about their employees to provide what they need~

Well I already posted on the insurance page.. and came to post here and saw my mother already did so. =\ So yeah, if you were looking into it like us, please be sure to call your insurer and make sure you are accually going to be covered!

Donna, This makes me soooo sad. I would not have been able to have the surgery had it not been for my insurance through the State Merit System. I know you don't want pity, but please know my heart hurts for you! It's not right! Hugs, Becky

thank you so much for your kindness, it is appreciated~...good luck and weight loss to you becky~