Question:
Has anyone ever been denied insurance because they are overweight?

Well I got my denial letter today from Blue Cross. I was trying to apply for an independent Medical insurance plan and was denied because I was overweight and too high risk. I have no other health related problem besides weighing in the low 300's. If anyone has any suggestions or similar situations please e-mail me at [email protected] or respond.    — Heather R. (posted on July 7, 2003)

July 7, 2003
Yup, sounds familiar. I applied for an individual policy a couple years ago and was turned down because of my weight, and that was the only reason. Want a little bit or irony? After my surgery, 1 year post-op, within 10 lbs of goal and NO health problems still, I can't get an individual policy, I was still turned down. Why? Because I had weight loss surgery. No insurance company will give anyone an individual insurance policy for 5 years after WLS. Why? Damned if I know. The real kicker is that I had just come off of coverage with the same insurance company on a group policy. My evil former employer cancelled the policy on us so I tried to get it transfered to an individual policy, same insurance company. They said no. They are evil, evil people. =)
   — KelBurt

July 7, 2003
My Dad was denied he is 416 lbs...there is a state mandated special insurance that has to except people with 'pre-existing" medical conditions....they consider obesity a medical condition...Blue Cross (California) they should tell you about it...you have to get on a waiting list it will take about 6 to 8 months to get it.... they only accept so many people on it a year ....If I remeber correctly the abbreviated name for the plan is called "MMIP" or something close to it...the insurance people had a lingo for it and called it "Mr. Mip" call the insurance back and ask what other plans they can offer....there has to be something the other option is to get Medical or something
   — E. V.

July 7, 2003
I have had SAMBA (Special Agents Membership Benefits Assoc) life and disability insurance for 13 yrs and when I tried to up the disability income to my current salary, after getting a raise, I was denied an increase twice so far. They didn't cancel me but they refused to increase it and the reason was quite simple: gastric bypass surgery. This is stupid since I had a lot of comorbidities prior to my surgery and now I am very healthy! Insurance companies and lawyers belong in the same place.......at the bottom of the ocean! My opinion..
   — Mylou52

July 7, 2003
I have the same problem. I am considered uninsurable because I am Morbidly Obese. I live in Tennessee which does have TennCare for the uninsurable BUT of course I go through H-ll trying to find a Doctor to take it or I find one and they switch me because this time "His panel is full". I have heard it all. Now I am trying to get approved for WLS. I just keep praying I will get approved and someone will take me as a patient. I guess it doesn't matter after the surgery if I can't get insurance or not because I can't get it now either. I think it is DISCRIMINATION! Tammy E.
   — Tammy E.

July 8, 2003
I personally do not have life insurance, however, it seems as if there may be a trend developing, where those who have had the WLS are being denied a life insurance policy. Whats next, denial of health insurance? Or a higher cost to obtain health insurance? Where are the statistics that the insurance companies are using to deny these policies? If anything, it seems that those who have had WLS, and successfully lost weight are much healthier than pre-op, at a much higher weight and with all those high risk co-morbidities. Doesn't make sense. I'd be curious to know if others are having the same problem or is this just isolated to a few uniformed insurance companies looking to save a few bucks. Perhaps the next step is contacting NIH and our congresspeople/Senators.
   — Cindy R.

July 8, 2003
the other side to the story is that insurance companies are not in business to "help" us, they are there to make money. How many times have youseen it posted on this site for people who don't have insurnce or who have been denied to try for an individual policy for a few months that will cover it & "then you can drop it." morbidly obese people are at significant health risk for many very expensive problems outside of the insurance company having to pay for WLS. Remember the insurance company is not your friend, it is a company whose goal is to collect premiums from healthy people eith no health problems or risk factors, and avoid paying out and make lots of money. in the meantime maybe look for a job that gives health insurance coverage. most places have policies that will cover all employees if they sign up by a certain time after they are hired.
   — **willow**