insurance weary woes and worries

I have a long story but will try to condense. I have been appealing the denials for surgery to my insurance company. It is a benefit exclusion. They denied an initial referral to the bariatric surgeon. I am 5'2" with a BMI of 66 and 53 yrs old. I paid to go to the wls surgeon to see if I am a candidate for surgery. The surgeon felt that my risk factors were such that he would only do surgery in two phases. Phase one is the gastric sleeve, stomach stapled like part of duodenal switch. Phase two after 9 to 24 months and the initial weight loss you have the gastric malabsorptive part, pouch and bypass. It is aimed at getting super-super obese people closer to their ideal weight loss instead of 200+ pounds which is still in the obese range. I hope this makes sense. I understand the process and agree with wanting to loose and not be considered obese. I am not able to self pay for two surgeries. The insurance doesn't know I went to the surgeon. So, I don't now if I can call the insurance company and have them contact the surgeon to request additional information. They are not indicating to me the information they require just vague statements. The surgeon's insurance advocate will only talk to the insurance company and they must contact her. I have since received word that my second appeal a written one I sent has been denied. We will now go to a Complaint Appeal Panel which will not include a surgeon experienced in bariatric surgery. My employer has been kind enough to get involved and the recommendation was that the doctor should appeal my denial and give medical facts. My primary care physician of the last 12 years retired in August 2005. The new primary care physician has shown little interest in my health. He stated "I included all the pertinent information in my initial referral. I can't add anything to my statement." Here is the main instruction from the insurance company on the CAP. You or a designated representative are entitled to: o appear in person before the CAP o present alternative expert testimony, and o Request the presence of and question any person responsible for making the prior determination tat resulted in the appeal. The above says nothing about medical information from a doctor. It does seem that they are willing to look at more information and the words I have also heard discussed are to make sure this is not purely for cosmetic reasons. Sure... I am 5' by 5' ... cosmetics is all I am about! Anyone have a good strategy or information that might help? Sorry for the length.