Howdy from Chesapeake

Found this forum while doing a web search on dieting and surgery I am one of many between a rock and a hard place,

My Blue cross health keepers won't pay for surgery,

I had an A-Fib in 2009 and am on heart meds for that,

diagnosed diabetic in 2009

morbidly obese

diagnosed sleep apnea 2010

Right knee needs replacing and left not far behind I am having to use a walker to get around at age 52....

Doctor won't replace knees until I lose weight.....

I have tried dieting which usually leads to a 45 to 50 pound loss and then a 4 to 6 month stretch with no lose which means

old eating habits come back into play and I gain it back + ........

I am tired of living a half life & want my life back!  the past few years have been a little hard on me,  My wife had been diagnosed with cancer in 2008  around the time my knees started giving out  I had the A-Fib while trying to be a care giver and hold a full time job..... I lost my Carol in Nov. of 2009 at age 48 ..... So the past three years have been a bit of a struggle....

Hi KABAR,

Sorry for your loss, I can understand your difficulties. It seems unusual that at your age and weight with co-morbidities they won't approve you... Did they say why?

Wow, BCBS of NC approved me (and almost everyone in NC) in a heartbeat!?  Not sure if it is a compliance issue or what but I would see if there is anything you can do.

"Self-pay" is an option, about the cost of buying a new car... but might be worth it if all else fails?

The two things Blue Cross Health Keepers HMO will NOT pay for is weight loss surgery or weight loss clinics it would cost 30 dollars more per person a month on our plan to have it....... So I get what the company it pays for.....funny thing is my insurance went up 16.00 a pay period or 384 a year my co pays went up also from 20 to 25 and I have a 150 deductible on meds.... I'm going to stop now.... thinking about how much more money it's costing me this year for the same services is going to raise the bp....