Question:
ANYONE WHO IS COVERED BY BCBS OF ALABAMA BEEN APPROVED WITH A BMI OF LESS THAN 40?

IF SO, WHAT COMORBITES DID YOU QUALIFY WITH?    — CINDY D. (posted on October 17, 2003)

October 17, 2003
yes i'd like to know this also... valerie hydrick
   — Valerie H.

October 17, 2003
Well, my BMI was exactly 40 and I have type II diabetes. I have BCBS of Alabama. I was approved on my first try. Everything went really well and very quick. Sandra
   — SandyParker

October 17, 2003
Cindy, I'm going to tell you the co-morbidities my benefits book has listed. "is covered 100% of the PPO allowance. The member DOES NOT have morbid obesity but is more than 30% over ideal body weight and has one of the following conditions: diabetes, cardiac disease, coronary insufficiency, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, history of myocardial infaction, congestive heart failure, respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with decreased PO2 tension, Pickwickian syndrom, documented hypertension(diastolic blood pressure repeatedly in excess of 100), endogenous obesity secondary to hypothyroidism(abnorman T3 or T4 test), Cushing's disease (adrenal hyperfunction-elevated urinary 17 ketosteroids), Hypothalamic dysfunction due to tumors or trauma, testicular or ovarian dusfunction due to decreased testosterone level or polcystic ovaries(Stein-Leventhal syndrom)." Now that's a mouthful. Now, remember I live in MD and Md has an obesity law. I hope this helps.
   — Debbie W.

October 17, 2003
I've got BCBS of AL PMD PAC (XAA contract) and my bmi is 38. I'm working on an appeal right now. I was denied b/c of 1.) pre-existing condition (I've got a cert of continuous coverage so this will be easy to fix). And 2.) lack of evidence of medical necessity. However, the surgeon's office did not send them my pcp's letter nor any of my medical records (which I submitted to them at my consult & a couple of days later). All they sent was the notes transcribed from the surgeon's dictation (duh?). I'll let you know how it goes.
   — Le P.

October 24, 2003
I was approval the lst time the only thing that I had was gred. Now I had to have the information on the diet that I had been on with in the last past 5 years.
   — maxine84