Question:
My daughter's husbands insurance states in the exclusions....

any expense, service of treatment for any form of food supplement or augmentation (unless necessary to sustain life in critically ill person) for any exercise program, weight control or removal of weight or fat, whether for obesity or for any other diagnosis and whether by diet, injection of any fluid, or use of any medication or surgery of any kind, or for any kind of stapling (internal or external.Could the part that says unless to sustain life in a critically ill person help her get an approval?    — Brenda T. (posted on March 11, 2002)

March 11, 2002
It says obesity, NOT morbid obesity. Those are the key words.
   — Leslie F.

March 11, 2002
I don't think the clause stating food augmentation or supplement for a critically ill person will have any positive bearing or relevance for WLS. You should be able to find the information you're seeking in the contract. If not, call them to find out if they distinguish between obesity and morbid obesity for covered services. They should be able to give you pretty definative answer on this over the phone. If the rep. is wishy-washy, talk to someone else. Just today I called to find if my new insurance distinguishes between obesity and morbid obesity - they don't and it was made very clear the will not cover any type of WLS under any circumstances. Good luck.
   — Shelly S.

March 11, 2002
The 'critically ill' portion would be much more likely to apply to someone who was anorexic and would die within a few days if no food supplementation were done. I'd be surprised to see if they would really make any distinction between obesity and morbid obesity.
   — garw