Principal

Anyone with Principal health insurance? Ive never heard of it, all I know is that ive heard its really hard to get bariatric surgery through them :( but it is possible.  Is there anyone here that has had success with them or has them now?

Hey Alaska, Never heard of it. Do you have a book descibing your benefits? Did your employer take a plan with them that excludes WLS? That's the first thing to check, and the plans can change yearly (usually Jan 1). If there is no exclusion on WLS (you can call ins, read nenfits book, or ask HR), then see if the benefits book described the requirements for getting approved (also known as the "HOOPS" you have to jump through). Each insurance has a different criteria for what they consider "morbid obesity"-- but the standard from Nat Inst of Health is BMI over 40, or over 35 with at least one serious co-morbid illness (like heart disease, diabetes, apnea, high blood pressure). SOme insurances even go so far as to describe which co-morbids they find acceptable and may want more than one illness. Some say if you have high BP and it's controlled with medicine, then it doesn't count! So find out their CRITERIA for M.O.  Also find out their requirements. Most require a 5 year documented history of M.O. and a 6-12 month diet within the last 2 years which is supervised by your PCP monthly. Sometimes they'll accept proof of WW, Jenny Craig, etc.  So how difficult they are, depends on how close you come to their criteria. Best of luck, Kahlua