Question:
I know some states have WLS laws but what do these laws really mean?

I still see people from those states getting denied.    — Becky B. (posted on September 16, 2001)

September 15, 2001
Becky: Here in Ohio, the WLS law states that you can't be denied coverage of WLS surgery on the basis of the insurer's determination that it's not medically necessary if you have sufficient documentation from a doctor stating that it is medically necessary (I think). That being said, I was denied coverage on the basis that my (former) employer agreed to language that was exclusionary in its contract with the insurer, the cheapskates(!). Go figure! Other states differ.
   — Marjorie B.

September 16, 2001
Here in Virginia the law says:<br> "Accident and sickness insurance; coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity. Requires health insurers, health maintenance organizations and corporations providing accident and sickness subscription contracts to offer coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity through gastric bypass surgery or such other methods as may be recognized by the National Institutes of Health as effective for the long-term reversal of morbid obesity. The bill's provisions are applicable to policies, plans and contracts delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on and after July 1, 2000. The state employee's health insurance plan is required to offer the same coverage. The provisions do not apply to short-term travel, accident-only, limited or specified disease policies, or to short-term nonrenewable policies of not more than six months' duration. "<br> In other words the insurance co. has to offer it to your group, but your group may choose to have an exclusion in it's policy. Our Trigon/Blue Cross HMO had a specific written exclusion but we were able to switch to a PPO policy which included it so I could have surgery this year. The laws are definately confusing and don't help at all if your group chooses not to carry coverage for WLS. I got the above info from: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+sum+SB541I
   — Jonathan M.