Question:
Can an inurance company deny you because you are over weight?

Carefirst of Maryland denied me health insurance, because I was over the weight limit, even though it was open enrollment. Is that legal?    — [Anonymous] (posted on June 1, 1999)

June 1, 1999
Unfortunately Health Insurance is considered a priviledge not a right. Insurance companies base their acceptance of a client based a table of probabilities that are calculated by a number of factors, weight being one of them. With morbid obesity also comes certain co-morbidity factors which make a morbidly obese person a poor risk. In order for the insurance company to stay in business they must take in more money than they pay out and so if your risk factor is too high then they will exclude you. Rich
   — Richard T.

June 1, 1999
go to www.obesitylawyer.com This site should tell you how to find this out...
   — JAN C.

June 1, 1999
It is my understanding that with "open enrollment" there are no health questions asked. I never was asked by my employer. It may vary from company to company however. Each company negotiates their own terms. I do know some people that have left our company and been denied coverage at other companies based on pre-existing conditions. Low fat diets cause the gall bladder to sit idle (the gall bladder excretes bile to help in the digestion of fats). While the gall bladder is sitting idle, the bile hardens and turns into stones (this is a simple as I can explain it). Its very common after weight loss to develop stones. With all of my dieting prior to WLS, I was full of them and had already had a cholecystectomy in 1996. I'm not sure if they will remove the gall bladder via the lap approach or not (they certainly can) but I know several folks that had the open approach had theirs removed at that time. Hope this helps. Regards, Diane - Empire BCBS - New York Lap RNY 4-9-99 Dr. Champion - Atlanta Pre-op 263 BMI 49.8 7 Weeks Post-op 234 BMI 43.4 23% of Excess Weight Lost O :)
   — Diane N.

June 9, 1999
All I can give you is a quote that I think says it all(send a copy to your wretched insurance company). Quote from: "International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity: Statement on Morbid Obesity and its Treatment" in Obesity Surgery, 1997, 7, 40-41. "Discrimination on the basis of race, gender or religion is an abhorrence to civilized society. SIZE DISCRIMINATION which condemns obese humans to be excluded from access to medically necessary care is equally abhorrent."
   — Sharon E.

August 18, 1999
The spouse of a recent RNY recipient told Michigan BX/BS representatives that he would sue for coverage under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her denial was immediately "reviewed" and she was approved. Her spouse was a bulldog with insurance folks; a great support for her.
   — Dee R.