I have been without insurance for the better part of a decade, relying mostly on free health care provided by donations and volunteers. I worked for 7 years at a financial firm in Nashville Tennessee and in that time, they did not offer me health insurance one time because in part I was a full time temporary. And being overweight I couldnt afford the High Risk insurance in Tennessee because it was $600 a month for me for being overweight.

Once Obamacare was hinted at, I was like FINALLY I will have insurance. Well.... No such luck. I applied with the state of Ohio which I currently now live and have lived for 3 years. I dont have a job or a way to get to a job now. Being that my fiance uses the only car we have to get back and forth to work every day that is an hour to and from. I applied for Medicaid and The reply from the state was "Even though Miss. Smith, you do qualify for Ohio Medicaid, we are denying your application. When I contacted the office. They said come in and talk with us and we will see what we can do for you.

I get there and the aide that was helping me asked, very simple questions, 1. Are you pregnant (No I cant have kids) 2. Are you an unwed mother (Again no, I cant have kids) 3. Do you have a job making below poverty level wages (No, I have no way of getting to and from a job so I make no money and am under the poverty level) 4. Are you of African American or Latino descent (No Im Caucasian).

They said because I answered no to every question, that I was being denied because the government deemed me non sufficiently eligible. I even gave them past health records to show the need for the help. I have PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) High Blood Pressure, Asthma, High Cholesterol, and had a mini Stroke. Which I require very expensive medications every month and I need help getting them.

The exact words next literally made my jaw hit the floor, they aide, pulled me to the side and said and I quote "If you were black or mexican you would have health care no problem"

I was floored by this comment.

I cant get medicaid, I cant afford Obamacare. Even the cheapest plan is out of my price range of $349 a month. and thats the basic plan that only covers Medicine, Office visits and thats pretty much it.

I give up, I will never be able to get weight loss surgery to save my life. I walk every day. I eat right and they weight wont come off. I need help and insurance. But, the government doesnt care about me. I dont even matter enough to be counted as in the poverty level and get assistance.

I'm going to die because I cant get help from the so called President that says he is helping everyone.

Sorry for the rant, Im tired of being tired and sick. And when I seek help, I just get a cold shoulder.

The Early Bird Ticket discount ends today for our OH National Conference on August 15-16, 2014.  We hope to see you there with us! 

Best of luck to you on your wls journey

Do you know....

•  ObesityHelp has hosted 67 conferences
•  ObesityHelp held the first conference focused on bariatrics
•  There are only TWO DAYs left to buy your Early Bird Tickets

We hope to see you at the OH National Conference 2014! 

Hello!  I am curious if anyone has any experience getting approved for body contouring through insurance. I paid cash for my surgery back in 2007 and the amount of excess skin I have is ridiculous and uncomfortable to say the least.  Granted..I do not have boils bursting out of every fold ..I do have issues that i am now realizing that maybe I should start documenting.  If anyone is willing to share can you tell me what your insurance providers requirements were, what type of insurance, your pre op BMI and anything else you think that might be helpful. My case is going to be weird because I paid cash originally in the first place. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks!