Help, my approval was denied. Any suggestions.

Today I found out that United Healthcare had denied my approval for surgery due to it was excluded in our companies policy. My surgeon's office had been trying to get this reviewed since June. Due to confuction with my employment I was lited as terminated for two days July 1 and 2nd. But, the policy never terminated. I found this out due to Dr. Hocking's office notifying me that I was no on the insurance plan. That was on July 2, 2003. My claim was then resubmitted and she was told that the policy was up for renewal and the review could not take place until August 1. Upon sending that review in she was notified my surgery had denied because it was excluded in my policy. My employer made no changes to my policy. Last years policy read Surgery would be declined unless medically necessary. I am an insulin dependent diabetic, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and continueal shortness of breath. Apparently the insurance company was adding this exclusion into the policy and would not approve it so my surgery would not be covered. It almost seems that they made this decision knowing good and well they would have to approve it when it was initially sent in and then told my physician they had to resubmit it. Has anyone ever experienced this. Any suggestions.

GO through all the appeals that you are allowed with your insurance company and then see if you can do an external appeal...