WLS Exclusion - UHC Choice Plus

Help!  Forgive me if this answer has been posted elsewhere--I've tried searching and haven't found an answer. I have insurance through my husband's employer (Columbus Metropolitan Libraries) who carries UHC Choice Plus.  Apparently they have an exclusion for all WLS surgery and WLS related activites. They will not pay. What do I do? I qualify for surgery (I have a BMI of 55, several co-mordibities, and have been moridly obese for over five years).  Is there a way to appeal and if so, how does one go about it?   We can't afford self-pay and taking out a loan is out of the question right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. -Elisabeth

Unfortunately, when they exclude a specific procedure in the policy there is really not much you can do.  Maybe someone else has more information.

Dear Paul: So am I basically s.o.l.?  I believe they are self-insured.

If your company excludes WLS then appealing won't matter.  The insurance company administers the policy for the employer.  The employer chose to exclude it there is nothing you can do.

The odd thing is that customer care is telling us to submit the claim under the co-morbidities rather than for wls--they'll claim they'll take that under consideration.  I'm just so confused as the emploer is telling me that it is excluded; the insurance company is telling me to submit for consideration; and my hospital is telling me to self-pay.