Is this true?

I just got denied by United Healthcared for LapBand on Friday....Ugh!  The Insurance Guru is being so kind as to help me.  She has drafted an awesome letter for me to send in for the appeal.  Everyone says she knows her stuff.  It shows through in her letter. A mutual friend on the board says she's really good at helping people with appeals also.  Her only concern was that it's a lot harder to get insurance to reverse denials when BMI's are under 40.  Is that true?  My BMI is 35-37.  I have 4-5 comorbidities.  I just don't have high cholesterol, high blook pressure, or heart disease.  HOwever, the comorbidities I do have are considered by most other insurance companies. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I'm a nervous wreck Thanks,

I have been denied twice only to find out I was missing 10lbs ( well some ankle weight to care of that) that's what my insurance company said I needed to weight 230lbs to qualify.  So talk to someone at your insurance company and see if they will tell you what you need to do.

LOL!!!  Thanks!!  I definitely have the ankle weights if I need them!  Trust me!  If they didn't say anything about my BMI in the first denial letter, can they/will they say something in the second letter, if we're able to convince them of the sincerity of my comorbidities, even though they're not high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease? I mean can they throw something else at me that wasn't in the first denial letter? Thanks,

Well my insurance company doesn't go by bmi, you have to be 100lbs over ideal weight for bone structure and body frame and have one comorbit, which I have Type II diabetes. I just sent in my second appeals letter, and a letter from my Dr. stating my new weight and along with the my recent weight related issues.

Girl,  Is your insurance crazy, or what?  What is wrong with them?  Your 2nd appeal letter????!!  If you have to be 100lbs over, which apparently you are, or you wouldn't be doing this, and you have diabetes, what is their problem????!!!!   No offense, but your case sounds like a no brainer.  Granted, I'm no insurance company....lol!!  But gimme a break! Have you heard of Kelley or Gary at Obesity Law?  If so, you probably are way ahead of me and know what I'm talking about.  If not, I don't know if it depends on type of surgery you're getting or not, but they will help you with appeals, if you meet certain criteria. See ya, Melissa

When I started this I weight 219 and at the time I had no documented comorbits Tricare reconized, but after talking to my husband's surgeon (he had is surgery 2/18/08 65lbs gone) she told me to go for it so I did, and got denied.  When I sent in my appeal letter I weight in at 222 and and found out I have Type II diabetes, along with severe Gerd ,and got denied.  That's when I called Tricare in tears and they told me I need to be 230lbs to qualify for wls and that's where the ankle weights come in.

Hi,  I was denied twice in March of this year from UHC choice plus.... The first time was  because I was not on meds for my co- morbids......  My doctor didn't want to put me on them becuase he felt i could control them with diet and excerise.  One problem is I can't excerise due to severe joint pain in my knees. The second time they denied my appeal because i was on the meds so therefore the co-morbids were being controlled by them.... Go figure.... Well it is about 2 months out and the meds are not controlling them. So he rewrote me a letter to submit as new to the surgeon...... Hopefully this time it goes through without any problems... Currently my BMI is 37.3 I believe.....And here is a list of my co-morbids HBP High Choles. Type II Diabetes Severe joint pain in knees GERD Asthma - Shortness of breath

I don't have HBP, High Choles. or asthma but I have everything else .  I am tired of people telling me my illnesses can be controlled with diet and exercise.  If that was the case I wouldn't be here right now.  What happens when you have a set back or and illness and you can't diet or exercise ....you gain it all back along with a few of it friends.  I hope we can both get our wls surgeries approve and be on I way to a nice healthy and fit life.

what state r u located in?