Question:
Anyone use Obesity Law Institute's Early Approval Plan?

   — Vikki L. (posted on May 21, 2003)

May 21, 2003
Many, many people have been approved without the help of such a place as this. If you would be one of those, then you're gonna spend $245 for nothing. If not, then all you are getting is a $245 credit TOWARDS their fee charged for appealing. I just looked on their site and that is $495. If you get denied initially under this Early Approval plan, you are still laying out the $495 ($245 initially and $250 later) that you would have laid out if you had been on your own in the beginning. Personally, if you have a good case for surgery, then don't worry about retaining these people unless you are denied...just my opinion...JR
   — John Rushton

May 21, 2003
Yikes. I agree with John. This sounds like a waste of good money to me. And a bit of a misnomer -- "Early Approval Plan?" It's the insurance company that approves, not the submitter -- just exactly how does this make your approval guaranteed, or more likely, or "early," I wonder. Plus, I would think the insurance companies will quickly catch on once they start getting a standard boilerplate submission (customized? doubtful) from a (non-medical) source supporting coverage. In a word: Ugh.
   — Suzy C.

May 22, 2003
I would stay away from this, like the other posters. Sort of an unscrupulous way to get money from desparate people - and how many obese folks have been duped by "diets" and "products guaranteed to make you lose weight" in the past? My insurance covers WLS, but my husband was denied because he didn't meet the BMI of 40 or over criteria. I wrote his appeal letter (I think I know him better than a stranger!) and he was not only approved, but the criteria was changed! And, it didn't cost $245.00.
   — koogy

May 22, 2003
I agree with previous posters that there does not seem to be a clear financial advantage to doing this prior to the first denial. However, the gentleman in charge is both a DOCTOR and an ATTORNEY (WOW!), therefore I should think insurance companies would pay attention when he lays out the MEDICAL and LEGAL reasons that a patient should be approved (or should not be denied, depending on your perspective). If I knew I were working with a difficult Insurance Company, or knew my documention was not quite "up to snuff", I might have considered a preemptive strike such as this.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 22, 2003
This sounds like a scam to me. Talk to your doctor's office. They should be able to give you all the help you need. My doctor's office was an incredible help. Although I wrote the letter to the insurance company, and provided the necessary documentation (diet history, etc.) they did the filing, the co-morbidity analysis, and had my approval in no time. If your surgeon and his staff aren't willing to be supportive in your quest for approval, I would get another surgeon. They should want this for you as much as you want it for yourself.
   — Carly B.