EMPLOYER PROBLEM!

I had become freinds with my boss and confided in her that I was looking into getting the WLS because she herself is obese and I wanted to share the information I had learned to give her an option of having the surgery as well. Unfortunately, she and the director are the top of the food chain. There is no one above them. They both agree that they wont approve my leave. When i asked my surgeons office to write me a letter stating the surgery was not elective, the woman said, well, it IS elective.. So she felt a letter would not help me argue my case either. I have since decided to just go ahead with the surgery, even though i will most likely be fired. I am now just hoping to not get fired until after i return home from the hospital at least, so that I dont receive a huge bill for those 3 days I am supposed to be there. I am not sure how long my insurance coverage is supposed to be after I get terminated. I have heard that i have 30 days, or until the end of the month, whichever comes first.. which in my case, would be the end of the month. so i would have 1 day uncovered. i have also heard that they are only obligated to cover me the day i get fired. in which case, if they fire me on the 30th, i will have 2 days uncovered.. Sigh. I really wish i never confided in her, but its too late to change that, I just have to figure out a way to still get the surgery and still be covered by insurance. Any advice?

Ana if you have already been approved than they do not have the power to call your ins co. And tell them what to approve and not approve. That is illegal . So I would come to work each day do my job, and act like you understand. Than I the day of surgery call out sick, than the next day call out sick and the next day call out sick. Than their will be a weekend, and you return the next Monday with your doctors note. And let them fire you for that, because than you had your surgery, you can collect unemployment, and sue them.

I called my insurance company and asked them what would happen in the event that my employer called them and told them that they would like to exclude this type of surgery. The company said that its up to them. If they choose to exclude the surgery from their plan, then the approval i got for the 30th becomes null and void. So apparently they do have the power to decide whether or not I will get the surgery. My only hope is that they have not thought to contact the insurance company. I have been going to work and acting as if everything is fine and that I am really NOT getting the surgery, but since they already know the date of the surgery, from the vacation form i submitted at the end of april when i found out the surgery date.. I feel like that date is a red flag, and if i called out that day at all, i feel like I am a sitting duck either way. What was supposed to be an exciting time in my life, has turned into an awful time. thank you for your responses. I just really wish I had a way of going over their heads, and I dont.. so its all up to fate at this point.. sigh.

Ana how about if you talk to your surgeon, ask if he/she can put you in the week before because they are giving you a hard time at work about the time off. Or even the week after. On a Thursday, than you will have fri. Sat . Sun. And return to work on Monday with a sick note.???? Just a thought. Bridget k.

I was kind of scared to let my surgeon know that they are giving me a hard time, because I dont want them to think that I will be fired and then possibly the surgery wont be covered under my insurance. But I am going for my PAT testing today, and I am going to bring it up to them that I need to move my surgery date. I am hoping to have it on a Friday, so that I dont have to call out 3 days in a row, but i can call out that Friday, then the next 2 days, i am in the hospital. You think the surgeon would okay me to return to work that Monday? Thats seems a little too soon after having Open RNY? But definately thinking of changing the date of the surgery. Thanks for that recomendation. I want it to be either this friday, or next.. That would be the best option. I will keep you posted. Congrats on your surgery and weight loss by the way Good work.

You're having OPEN RNY? You'll be lucky to return to work in a week, and more likely two. There is NO WAY you will be cleared to return to work on post-op day 3; in my opinion as a physician, if your surgeon DOES clear you to return to work that fast, he is teetering on the brink of malpractice.