Urgent Message to all State of Virginia employees

In an effort to cut the state budget, Gov.Kaine has issued an executive order to stop paying for weight loss surgery and all related care for those whose health insurance comes through their employment or retirement from the state of Virginia.  This would include cutting benefits for those who already have had surgery and would eliminate coverage for things like follow up visits and band fills, etc. 
Since Monday is a holiday and our legislators will vote Tuesday on whether to accept the proposed state budget, whi*****ludes the executive order, we must act immediately to let our legislators know how we feel about this change.  I would suggest an email today, followed by phone calls first thing Tuesday morning.  Flood their offices with calls and emails!!!!
Go to :  http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openforum

 

I could not open up the link, is this for state employees? does this effect government and federal workers as well? This is a first that I have heard about this.

State employees are covered under the Commonwealth of Virginia (CoVA Care) policy and federal employees are in the Federal Employment Program (FEP, id number beginning with an R).  They are different policies and have different benefits.

No one has heard about it until very recently and the vote is on Tuesday, so it is difficult for citizens to have input on an issue they don't know about yet!  It does not effect federal government employees at this point.  But of course, if this passes in Virginia there is concern that other insurers and employee groups will be affected.  Sorry the link doesn't work.  It is just a way to identify who you should contact, if you are a Virginia citizen.  If you already know who your state legislators are you don't need that link. 
Hope this is helpful.  Sorry I don't know much more.  My surgeon's office called me Friday to tell me about this, so the information is from a credible source and I am sure it is all true.

http://legis.virginia.gov/  Try this site then click on find your rep.

Thanks for the link, Melissa...works beautifully and you can email your representatives right from that site.  :)

This is very scary, I'm a state employee and the governor reguardless of who it is always picks on state workers first when it comes to the budget, but this i****ting below the belt. People need their aftercare, I can't seem to find any information about this. I'm just praying that this just isn't true.


Tonya

I agree with you totally!  I am only 3 weeks post op from Realize band placement.  I might not have had the surgery if I had known that my insurance coverage for the after care might be ending.  I will try to check tomorrow and see if my surgeon's office has any updates to share.