Question:
What to do next?

Well, I am so disappointed right now, I can't believe I feel so low. My insurance carrier is Priority Health HMO of Michigan. I have had denial after denial. So I hired a lawyer, Walter Lindstrom. he is fabulous and really went above and beyond. Anyway we ended up at an appeal hearing before the HMO Task Force of MI in Lansing. We went through a three hour hearing. The Task Force unanimously voted to approve all three of our surgeries. (there were three of us appealing.) To say the least we were so excited. We were told it would take up to six weeks to get the approval in writing. Yesterday was six weeks. Well, I just heard from Walter Lindstrom and the Director of the Task Force overturned their decision and went ahead and sided with Priority Health and denied two of our surgeries. Well words can not expressed how I feel right now. I had been fighting over one year now and when I thought it was finally going to happen, the rug gets pulled from underneath you. I guess next step would be litigation (sueing). Has anyone here gone to that extreme? I mean is it really worth all of this hassle. I have scanned this site ever since that last appeal hearing and just got a wealth of information and was really excited that I had hope. But right now it is even to painful to check out any further, as it problably won't happen for me. Has anyone gotten insurance on their own and not through an employer and had it covered. Thanks for your listening ears and I know many of you are in the same boat as I am. I knew no one could understand like you all. thanks for listening.    — Cindy M. (posted on June 30, 2000)

June 30, 2000
I am so sorry for what you are going through, I know there is nothing that I can say to make you feel better. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, it is not fair for them to play with your life like that. Best Wishes... Kim
   — kimberly1224

June 30, 2000
Cindy....My heart goes out to you. I suggest taking it all the way to litigation. This is YOUR LIFE! How dare Priority Health dictate your life. What ever you do, please do NOT give up. You have to take this to litigations not only for yourself but also for all the people that have been, or will be denied by insurance companies across the United States. We need to send a message to the insurance company's that obesity is a disease and needs to be treated. I'm sure it might be a tuff road ahead but no one loves you more than you. I'm sure that I speak for everyone when I say we will do what ever we can to try and help you. Keep your head up!! I'll be thinking of you. *Hugs*...JAY
   — Jason B.

July 1, 2000
GO FOR IT! Fight the good fight, my sistah... You have my support and my prayers. I wish you the best in all things! (Also, is there still a Free Press in Michigan? Get the word out to the press. This is a human interest story which will boil the blood of thousands, if they only knew.)
   — lisadiehl