Question:
Has anyone ever fought the insurance company because of an exclusion that states they

will not cover any weight loss surgeries including for morbid obesity. I can afford to pay for this myself and my insurance kicks in in april any suggestions.    — kelly F. (posted on January 8, 2005)

January 8, 2005
Try contacting Gary Visico, he's had wls and is an attorney that does only wls appeals/denials. http://www.obesitylawyers.com
   — Cynthia ..

January 8, 2005
Hi Kelly, I didn't have time to fight the insurance company (I went through two denials - two different insurance companies). My health was too precarious at the time, and my doctors didn't think I would live long enough to make it through the fight it would take. I ended up self-paying and going to Spain - to Dr. Aniceto Baltasar - for my surgery. For surgery, travel - everything - 2.5 yrs ago it was $15,000. It was a huge blessing in disguise - being able to side-step the whole insurance rigamarole, the big waiting lists, etc. - well, I'm just so thankful now that my insurance didn't pay, and that I was fortunate enough to have Dr. Baltasar for my surgeon! My only regret is that I didn't have my surgery earlier! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

January 8, 2005
My sister fought Blue Cross Blue Shield and was told there was no way around their exclusion in the policy and even working for BCBSofKS she took her complaint to the President who's reply was "If I make an exception for you others will want it too"
   — Catina A.

January 8, 2005
The company is really the ones who buy the policy with the exclusions. There are many types of BC/BS (or any other insurances) policies that a company can buy and yours just bought a cheap one. However, I do know a couple people who got Walter Lindstrom, an wls patient himself, to overturn a couple exclusions. One company threw out their exclusion policy after he wrote a letter. Best of luck to you!!
   — ZZ S.

February 10, 2005
Contact Walter and Kelly Lindstrom at the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center. They are lawyers who got me my approval. they are wonderful http://obesitylaw.com/index.htm Good Luck Laurie Fetzer
   — MsFetzer