Question re: "5 year history of morbid obesity"

Hello all: I am somewhat of a newbie who has Aetna, and is currently in the middle of the six-month diet and exercise plan. I have a question regarding the "morbid obesity which has persisted for 5  years or more" clause and need some opinions from anyone (not just Aetna folks) about what this means for me. I am one of those who had yo-yo'ed up and down hundreds of pounds several times over the last 17 years, yo-yoing between 140 pounds up to my all-time highest at 294. My current weight is 294 pounds. In 2002, I had a period of time where I starved myself down to about 140 pounds, but did not maintain that weight. My BMI hit 35 again by March 2003 (medical records can document this, as well as my yo-yoing over the course of 15 of the last 17 years). When Aetna looks at the 5-year requirement, I am afraid they are not going to take into consideration that I have been morbidly obese with a BMI of over 35 for most of my adult life, and that they are going to only look at the last five calendar years, in which case I did make it down to non-MO until 2003 - meaning they would make me wait until March 2008 to have this surgery! It would be devastating to me to have to wait that long, although I know that other people have had to wait longer. My BMI is now over 50. It seems unfair that they would be so inflexible because this problem has persisted all of my adult life, just not for a brief period of time in 2002 when I practically starved my way to thinness with liquid diets, but I am curious to know what anyone's experience has been with this. I see some posts that touch on this, but I'd still like to hear specifically what people's experience has been and if this was a problem for them.

you can send them more then just what they asked for i would send them records of dieting and your weight further back then 5 years if you think its going to make a difference if nothing else its a good point to make in an apeal alot of times they looks more outside of the box durring apeals... good luck

I have Aetna.  My opinion is that you will be denied but you can and should appeal.  Be sure to show your long term history going back as far as necessary and emphasies your co-morbidities. Just don't get discouraged if you are denied.   I would expect it.  You may have to go as far as the independant review but I think if your co-morbidities are bad enough and your long term weight has been up most of this time, you should win in the end. Good luck, Jim