DENIED! DENIED! DENIED!

Okay! Bcbs denied me. They said that I haven't been obese long enough. I think 10 years is long enough. At the end of 2002, I got down to 202 pounds due to being in court litterally twice a week with me ex husband. I was not eating at all and I was throwing up everytime I would eat. My nerves was really bad. I have maintained the same weight within 5 lbs since then. My blodd pressure isthrough the roof!(160/110) and this is just about everyday! I am on several blood pressure meds but they don't seem to work. I am going to appeal this and hopefully they will see my side and my primary care dr's side. He is behind me 100%. He thinks that I am a per fect candidate for this and it will help me out. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do? Please help! Christina

Hi Christina, I have BCBS, and I wasn't denied, but I can imagine how you must be feeling right now. As a card-carrying fatalist, I am worst-case-scenario queen...so I was certain I would be in your shoes right now. I don't have any experience in this area, but I have heard that having your doctor and your surgeon on your side is critical to the appeals process. My best friend was denied on her first try 5 years ago...she was (I think) about 350...with every co-morbity you can think of. I can never really get exactly what gets you denied. It ends up seeming so random to me. I am thinking of you though...sending good thoughts your way and wishing for a different result from your appeal. Please keep us posted on your progress. Lisa

Christina, I am sorry you got denied. Don't give up, make sure you appeal and do it as many times as you can. I know how exhausting this process is. I was lucky to get approved on the first attempt, maybe they denied you by mistake. We all know the claims are processed by people and people make mistakes. Stay Strong and Focused. Jennifer

I was denied 2 times and was going to the 3rd party appeal with a telephone conference when they called me 2 days before it and said they reviewed my file again and were approving me. I have BCBS of NC also. It is extremely frustrating but just make sure you have all of your records and appeal, appeal, appeal. Paige

I was in the same boat... I have BCBS of NC and was denied 3 times before getting approval by a 3rd party panel review. A few years ago I went down to 196lbs by a mixture of weigh****chers and OTC diet pills. When ephedra was banned I stopped taking the pills because non-ephedra ones didnt work for me - I gained all the weight back and then some over 18months. They didnt want to cover the surgery for me because of that one year - even thou I have been overweight for 14 years. Thankfully the external review saw things my way - I appealed saying I shouldnt be punished by not be allowed to have the surgery because one year my BMI was well below 35 and was achieved by using usafe and dangerous measures... so unsafe the FDA banned them!!!! Try and not get discouraged... insurance comapnies like to deny hoping you will give up - just get that appeal letter in!!

I would like to thank you all for your words of encouragement. i am appealing and I hope I get somewhere with it. Eventually things will happen for me. Maybe it just isn't the right time for me to do this.

Christina: So sorry to hear of your denial by BCBSNC. I was denied my first try with BCBS and on an appeal was approved. Read my profile and hopefully it will help in your appeal process. Good Luck and do not give up. Donna