Question:
Does Pacific Life Insurance require proof of Dr. supervised diets?

I believe I meet the requirements for insurance approval and have read wonderful remarks about my Surgeon, Dr. Tillquist in Englewood, CO. My BMI is 42.3 and I am more than 100 lbs overweight. I grew up with military doctors (Physician's Assistants is more like it) and the only advice I ever got about losing weight was "go on a diet." Many, many diets later, and here I am. No Doctor-supervised diet history. Will Pacific Life require proof? How can I find out? And what should I do if it IS required? (I can get my Weight Watchers chart and I am a member of a gym, does that help?)    — [Anonymous] (posted on December 11, 2001)

June 12, 2002
There is no date on this nor your name for me to email you directly, but I am dying to know what happened!! I too have Pacific Life and have yet to find anyone else- until you on this site who has it. Please, please, please email me!! [email protected]
   — karmiausnic

July 9, 2004
I too have Pacific Life & Annuity and I was denied the surgery last week. They sent me two different letters of denial. One says they are denying me because I have no comorbidities and the other says because my BMI greater than 40 there is no need to consider comorbidities. Seems contradictory to me. Also, they said I must have been on a medically supervised diet over 12 weeks in the last 3 months. Of course they never bother to tell me that 4 months ago when I started this process. I have lost close to 20 pounds in that time, but I know they will never consider that because they are evil! They came up with at least 10 other bullshit reasons not to cover the surgery (ex. no proof that I have been overweight for more than a year even though they covered a obesity related surgery claim more than 2 1/2 years ago and I have been heavy since I was 16! No referral from PCP even though I have a PPO plan that does not require referrals!) My policy says the only condition necesary for surgery is that you be 100 pound overweight which I am! They are looking for reasons not to cover this surgery even though it would save them money in the long run. I have hired Walter Lindstrom to write my appeal, but he has a wait time of 30-90 days! I will let ya'll know how that goes. I HATE INSURANCE!!!!
   — Melanie R.