Question:
Help- I need to find an insurance company!

I am trying to help my Aunt get this surgery, she works for the family business and they do not qualify for company insurance beacuse they are only 3 employees. She has looked into private plans like Blues Cross but they do not cover any obesity related items. Please help me if you know an outside company she can get herself or how she can appy for some type of aid. I am lucky and have insurance to help me but I need to help her she has worse health problems than me. Please provide me with any help you can of who she can reach -out of pocket straight cash will not work - it's not possibly finacially. Thanks so much ! and good luck to all of you!    — MARTINIQUE M. (posted on October 14, 2002)

October 14, 2002
Have your aunt check into applying for Medicaid. It is not the quickest way to get insurance for surgery, but it is an option. I applied 3 months ago and still am waiting to hear back from them, but at least I know that Medicaid does cover the procedure I need when I do get approved. Every state, I believe, has a state medical program as well where she could get health coverage to help with any comorbid conditions associated with obesity. The more documentation she has on her medical problems associated with obesity the better it is for her in the fight for Medicaid and WLS. Good luck and I hope this helps you a little =)
   — ImANewDee

October 14, 2002
HI I HAVE SUPER BLUE PLUS AND I HAD NO PROMBLEM LET THE SURGEON SEND A LETTER OF MEDICAL NECESSITY AND SOMETIMES THAT WILL WORK EVEN THOUGH THEY DONT PAY FOR OBESITY THE LETTER SOMETIMES HELPS BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER COMPLICATIONS GOOD LUCK ROSEMARY
   — ROSEMARY A.

October 15, 2002
I had Pacificare HMO. I had absolutely no problem with them. I was denied by my previous insurance AETNA, and my wife had Pacificare, The insurance rep at my surgeons said they were the easiest insurance to get approval from. They require medical necessity. After my letter was sent in by my surgeon they requested a psych evaluation and 48 hours later I was approved.
   — dkinson

October 15, 2002
Its so hard to get an individual policy that covers WLS. I'm in a job too that doesn't allow me insurance and those employers around who do carry insurance have exclusions specific to covering WLS. I know how hard it is. Although they wouldn't allow me access due to my weight and comorbids I found an individual plan through BCBS in my state that did cover it if medically necessary. In my state they have two carriers. Regence Blue Shield doesn't carry the policy but BCBS of Idaho does. Maybe she needs to look at a different carrier in your state. Besides checking more with other carriers the only other options I know of are the find a company with good insurance and take a second job (or change jobs - believe me I understand her situation though). The previous poster is right, she could try to get on state medical. I'm not sure of other states but my state offers NO medical coverage unless you're legally disabled, are pregnant, or are over 65. The last resort is to be a self pay. Its very hard to come up with that much money but is possible with determination. I hope your Aunt find a way.
   — Shelly S.