I don't even know where to start.....

I am feeling SO overwhelmed!!

I began looking into WLS a few years ago but our policy has a clear EXCLUSION.  :(  So I gave up.  I can't give up anymore, I need to fight.

But where do I start?  I have seen my PCP and my obgyn and both say that I am a perfect candidate for WLS.  I have Cigna though, plus the exclusion and after some of the reading I've done, I'm feeling disheartened and sad.  I live in Missouri and according to the OAC website this is a state with "access to care" issues for obese patients.

I have a reservation for an informational seminar on July 30th with one of the WLS hopsitals here in St. Louis and I will talk to someone there about these issues I guess.  But is there something I should be doing in the meantime? 

I am just feeling very overwhelmed and I have no idea what I should be doing at this point.

You need to go to your HR department and discuss your needs. They are the ones that have the power to change the policy.

So only the HR department can change it?  My insurance is through my husband's employer, which is USFoodservice.  And USFoodservice is a HUGE company with hundreds of locations.....my understanding is that USFoodservice has it's own division of Cigna.  When we call the number on the back of our insurance card we are directed to a USFoodservice Cigna rep. 

My husband works in the North Region of this map and you can see how many locations there are just in this section:  http://www.usfoodservice.com/usf/html/locations.html

I guess my reason for posting that link and for stating his employers name is this......Since his company is so huge would it do any good to even talk to our local HR department?  I'm sure the exclusion is part of their NATIONAL policy. :(  Perhaps even INTERNATIONAL because USFoodservice is a division of Royal Ahold, which is actually a Dutch company. 

Is there a way for me to find out if any USFoodservice employees, in any of the 50 states, have recieved WLS coverage?

 

 

Therese,
Call the HR dept and ask if the ins is a self funded program or fully funded. There is a big difference, if they are self funded then they are bound under ERISA, which is the federal guidelines for ins. My understanding with this is that if they are governed by ERISA, if they provide coverage for even 1 person, then they have to provide it for all.