To all: BCBS to deny WLS as of July 1st?

As you will see in another post there are two of us that have recently been told of this. I wanted to create this thread-so the issue was in the title. Does anyone else know about this in detail? Will BCBS deny all together-or will they tighten their rules even more? Does anyone have any documentation, news alerts-or links about the details? My WLS clinic is pretty concerned about this too. Peace, Lacyanna

I have BC/BS here in Pennsylvania. I just called last week to check on their requirements for this surgery and the woman I spoke with mentioned nothing about cancelling WLS. I guess someone will have to call to make for certain...

I have BCBS of Alabama, and was told that as of July 1st, my group will no longer have coverage for WLS. My surgeon submitted everything for preapproval on June 1st, and as of this morning the BCBS customer service told me it was still "in process." I have no idea whether they'll still keep considering me for preapproval after July 1st or not - I'm hoping that since we submitted the paperwork well before July 1st, they will, but I'm also not holding out much hope. I'll say that this sitting around waiting is KILLING ME, and I'm not any too fond of BCBS right now! I know I'm not really contributing much to the discussion, but I had to complain!

I thought this was supposed to be the best way to cure all kinds of obesity-related illness. Then again, if this country is so (pardon me) fat, doesn't that mean someone, somewhere is making a gagillion dollars off of us? To "cure" our obesity means someone doesn't get the new Jaguar next year or that trip to Fiji for their kid when he graduates from law school.

I was told by a doctors office that if your plan or group coverage is for 49 or less participants it will no longer cover WLS as of July 1st. They also said that they have been told verbally that so many threathened to hire lawyers that they have extended the cutoff date to January 1, 2006, BUT they have not recieved anything in writing yet. But as we all know they can sit on these till then. We are at their mercy. I can't believe that I pay $120.00 a week to them and I may not be able to do this. I started all this on December 2,2004 and I Have jumped through their hoops and NOW they have new Hoops for me to jump through.My paperwork has been in review since May 18th. Just call me 44 days IN PROCESS and Counting.

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AH,, sorry abou the test. I was doing something wrong in my postings. I wanted to thank all of you for your responses. This has been very stressful and upsetting. I have felt pretty alone about this whole thing. I have no idea if I will even be considered after tomorrow, July 1. Hang in there everyone and PLEASE share any information you have on these changes. Thanks, Lacyanna

I was going to try to call my BC/BS rep today to ask about this, but I didn't get the chance. I sent in my initial paperwork to the surgeon's office yesterday. I figure if there's a problem, they'll let me know. I hear the staff at Magee-Womens in Pittsburgh is outstanding. Hopefully they'll contact me if something goes wrong.

I think BCBS has indepentant groups throughout the country. I live in NJ but my husbands work is based in Rochester and our insurance is Excellus through NY. I called to find out coverage and they mailed me the policy saying that it is covered as long as its deemed medically necassary. The only requiremnt is s a letter from my PCP and a diet history. Now I know other BCBS policy holders have to do superviesed diets for 6 months...ect. So.... I think, as individuals, you need to contact your insurances personally before you panic!

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR PCP DOESN'T SUPPORT YOU MUCH AND HASN'T DOCUMETED VERY GOOD.SHE ISN'T HELPING ME ANY.MY BMI IS 39.?? AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS.TWO BULDING DISC IN MY LOWER BACK,FATIGUED ALL THE TIME,SUCK THE WALLS IN WHEN I SNORE(HUSBAND SAYS)LOL LEGS HURT ME,AND MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER HAD VERY STRONG MEDICAL HISTORIES.MY MOTHER WAS 54YRS OLD DIED DEC.27,2002.OF A MASSIVE STROKE.HER HEALTH WAS BAD.I DON'T WANT THAT I WANNA SEE MY KIDS GRADUATE AND EVRYTHING.I HAVE BC/BS STATE MERIT.I CALLED AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING TO ME ABOUT JULY 1ST.