Question:
Should I preempt my insurance company's decision

My ins co requested office notes from PCP to verify medically supervised diet history, but I know he has no history for me although he has given me diet sheets and told me that I need to lose weight. I am afraid they'll deny surgery so I have e-mailed Walter Lindstrom and also called the State Dept of Ins, which will send me a request for assistance form to complete so they can intervene. Now I'm not sure if I should follow thru yet because I don't know if ins co will still approve request when PCP informs them that he has not supervised my weightloss attempts. I also wrote my own very detailed appeal letter which I faxed to the ins co, including a 25 year diet history, but the person I'm in contact with hasn't given it to the medical review board because she says that's not what they asked for. Any advise because I'm sooo frustrated and feel like I can't fight any more. (Surgery is covered under my policy)    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 20, 2001)

May 20, 2001
My insurance company wanted the same thing. My weight had exceeded 350 for so long that he had not weighed me in years. I got him to write a letter detailing the time I had been his patient and that he had not been able to weigh me because I was to heavy for his scale. He also made mention to my failed diet attempts over the years. Well the insurance company accepted the letter and approved me. Good luck and I hope everything works out.
   — Barry R.

May 20, 2001
My insurance company asked for the same thing. I had already obtained a copy of my doctor's medical notes; to my surprise, she actually had jotted down each time we discussed weight. This was enough for insurance. If your doctor gave you diet sheets, he problably made a note of it. You may want to get a copy of the notes before your try a pre-emptive strike. - Kate -
   — kateseidel