Question:
Last week I posted a question about a BCBS rumor.
Today on the front page of the Florida Times Union there was a story about gastric by pass surgery. It says that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida will no longer cover any type of weight loss surgery. It says that "the treatments lack the effectiveness and cost benifit to justify coverage". It goes on to say "This self-induced lifestyle problem needs to be addressed at the root...not through an easy fix procedure we think there are safety and efficacy risks". I am so mad, how ignorant is that. Can they get away with that? I am almost incoherent after reading the artical. When I can think again I want to write someone or do something. Any suggestions? I think you can read the artical if you go to www.jacksonville.com. — Tawnda C. (posted on February 12, 2004)
February 12, 2004
I did a little research and found the article after typing the newspaper
name into google. Here is the link
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021204/met_14797793.shtml
It is an apparant truth, that they will stop covering the surgery after
this year. That is terrible, I am so sorry.
Shelley
— Shelley.
February 12, 2004
I have BCBS MI and they did pay for my WLS, but also were supose to cover
all my post-op visits and yet I keep getting billed and it was $300.00 for
my last set of labs and $500.00 for my visit with my Surgeon. I am tierd of
calling the insurance company and trying to get everything payed for. I has
my surgery at BTC and a couple months after my surgery they stopped
accepting BCBS b/c BCBS would not approve WLS anymore and I think thats why
I have so many problems now.
— Sandy M.
February 12, 2004
I saw that article as well, the weird thing is that it said UHC no longer
covers either, but they do. I have UHC and my surgeon called to make sure
the procedure was still covered, and under my policy it is. However, my
boyfriend also has UHC and his policy has a rather nastily worded
exclusion. Insurance sucks.
— Shayna T.
February 12, 2004
I have bc/bs of Iowa, and I have been told by them, that everyones policy
is the same. It all depends on what your employer negotiated with them when
the policy went into effect. I know my policy covers MO surgery and
according to my benefits coordinator they will continue to cover it. I
don't know if this helps I do believe that each branch under the BC/BS
umbrella is governed independently within it's self and per what the
employer negotiated with them.
— Linn R.
February 12, 2004
Correction to my previous post. Everyones policy is NOT the same. It all
depends on what your employer negotiated with them when the policy went
into effect. I know my policy covers MO surgery and according to my
benefits coordinator they will continue to cover it. I don't know if this
helps I do believe that each branch under the BC/BS umbrella is governed
independently within it's self and per what the employer negotiated with
them.
— Linn R.
February 13, 2004
I am not surprise - if it works they will break it is routine for a lot of
polical agendas namely healthcare. I am still amazed how places like Canada
are so far advance in healthcare while we wait for FDA and other red tapes.
We who have had the surgery must set examples for these policy makers - it
has improved the quality of our lives and we must attempt to continue to
show them that this surgery does work and should not be banned.
— Anna M.
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