Question:
Washington State insurance needs to cover morbid obesity!

Together we can mandate legislation to cover morbid obesity. Please e-mail if you can help. Thank you    — Stephanie S. (posted on September 15, 2001)

September 17, 2001
<font color=purple><p> There are waiting times for the surgeries all over the place.. two years seems a bit far out. Getting a law in Washington has nothing to do with waiting periods. What it will do is help those who have coverage that clearly exclude it to cover it. Its asking the state to recognize obesity is a medical problems. It is a recognized disease that should not be excluded. As far as would it require certain BMI's etc.. yeah it could it might who knows. Most have asked that the NIH criteria be adapted. So you have a BMI 35 or greater and have 1 or more comorbidities or a BMI of 40 or more. As far as the rest of the criteria who knows.. you would want to document what you can and find the other states that have laws and see if one would be a good example for Washington.</p> <p>If a law is passed in Washington that mandates it be covered who knows if that will include the local medicaid receipients and I don't see how it will hopen the door to sue.. but hey.. who knows.</p> <p>Anyway I was gonna try to address each concern this anonymous post put.. but gosh I just cant even see it necessary anymore. </p> <p>Yes this is a huge thing to get into.. I know I'm doing it for Oregon right now... but my gosh.. lets get real. Focus on concerns that you can.. one at a time. Once you get a legislator to look at it start talking realistically about the do's and dont's etc.</p> <p>Good luck.</p> <p>Let me know if I can help.</p> <p>Email if you want at </font><font color=blue>[email protected]</font></p>
   — Dawn R.