Need Advice. Sneaky Employer changed policy.

I work as an RN for a hospital and know of at least 4 other employees who have had their surgeries paid for via our insurance and the hospital employee benefit plan. I've been officially approved for surgery and have had letters of approval from BC/BS of WY since Feb. I originally had an earlier surgery date than my current May 3, 2004, but was forced to postpone since my manager told me I would not be given time off for surgery and that I would face losing my job if I was absent one more day between then (Dec 03) and July 04. So I rescheduled my surgery date several months into the future to earn extra vacation days and dragged myself to work sick several times, due to her warning. All this is just background information to set the scene for the latest wrench they have thrown into my plans. On April 9, 2004 I got a "flyer" type notice in my workplace box which announced changes to our insurance coverage. Effective April 1, 2004 (9 days previous to the notice, mind you) WLS was capped at a lifetime of $14,000.00. Reading my insurance benefit booklet it states my employer has the final say in all dealings concerning the insurance coverage. Reading my preapproval letters, one of them also indicates that I've been approved for surgery under the coverage in force at the time services are rendered. The other approval letter is not specific. I'm getting so discouraged. I suppose I'm just being paranoid, but it sure feels like my employer is doing their best to keep me from having this surgery. BTW, it turns out that I actually had an extra 2 weeks left on my FMLA leave, but my manager had miscalculated. I could have been several weeks postop by the time they decided to cap the WLS coverage if not for her insisting I would lose my job should I go ahead with the surgery. With the wording I've mentioned above, is there any chance I can fight this with the fact that I was preapproved BEFORE the change so should be "grandfathered" in without the $14,000.00 on the surgery? Also, as one of the employee benefits, my hospital used to pay the percentage of the hospital bill that the insurance would not cover. Do you suppose the $14,000.00 cap applies to this benefit as well? I'm afraid to ask them as I KNOW they will say it applies whether they had even thought of it or not at the time. Nothing has been mentioned in regards to this benefit yet, but I still have 10 days until my surgery. Perhaps they just haven't gotten around to putting out THAT flyer yet. FRUSTRATED & DISAPPOINTED in WYoming

You should talk toi a lawyer. They are forcing you to not use your legally entitled to beneifts. Email [email protected]