Help!

Hello my name is Nicole! I am new member to the site. However I have been checking it out and reading all your posts almost daily. I don't think there is a more helpful, caring, and informative group then this board. If anyone out there could take the time to help me, please read my profile and drop me a line. But I still would like to say HELLO EVERYONE!!! And I can't wait to get to know everbody and hopefully get on over to the loser's bench!!

Is this your husbands insurance? yours? do you still work? are you on disability? lots of questions you dont have in your profile.

By the way welcome to the board. and since you live in Springfield could you possible come to the next COF meeting im sure someone there can maybe help you with this better than i can.

If you are on disability due to weight Medicare will pay for this without a lot of hoopla going on. You would have to go to Sedalia for surgery due to the fact that Springfield isnt a medicare certified facility.

The COf meeting is the 25th at 2620 Battlefield in the police/fire station community room. at 6:30 please come there will be girls there that have fought the battle and won.

Good to see you on board. Jan

Nicole, DON'T GIVE UP!!!  As Jan has asked, is it your insurance or your husband's?  Get the HR person from the company involved because the insurance company misled you and they should be able to put pressure on the insurance to at least take care of the bills incurred because of the "mistake". However, you have a very high BMI and if you can see your way to come to the Circle of Friends meeting on the 25th there will be many folks there who can give you ideas about how to approach the insurance company and try to get around the exclusion.  If you can't make it, give me a call during the day, 417-234-0885 and I'll tell you some of the things I said.  Now, my insurance did not have an exclusion and I had to do a six month diet and exercise program (now they insist on a 12 month program), but I did write a pretty powerful letter about why I needed the surgery. Hugs, Lana

Welcome to the board, this board is wonderful, also the meeting we have a great time at the meetings,  ....Vesta

Nicole Congrats on deciding to change your life. Now, be patient, Rome wasn't built in a day. That being said you have to be an active participant in this because it doesn't just get handed to you. So get in there girl and work at it.  I know you will be SO happy with the results. If you need any help or advice we are all here for you. This is the best bunch of people I have met. Everyone here has been throught many of the same situations you are facing so if you need help do be afraid to ask. Welcome to the board sweeie. Take Care Hugs Michelle

I would like to say thank you to everyone that responded. I'm sorry I didn't give enough information. It is my insurance through my employer. So yes I do still work and I am not on disability. Everyone has been so helpful and kind. I will take all the advice to heart and use it to the best of my ability. I AM DETERMINED!

Dear Nicole, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!!  First, I would like to say we would love to see you at the COF group-its the BEST-and you WILL love the people there-I do-and I travel quite a ways to attend, because its worth it, trust me!!   My ins excluded WLS and I was turned down, and then I appealed 3x-all were turned down-and I did that for a living with the hospital and ins companies I worked for-so I knew what I was doing and HOW to do it-that being said-does your hubby have ins through his employer AND if so-have you checked to see if they cover it-and can you go through his insurance? You might want to check that out-there are so many different ways we can approach this-but there are so many different situations, like is your ins self funded? If so-even as an exclusion, there are loop holes-I would love to talk to you more about this and help you-do you think you could make it to the meeting? IF your in need of a ride, maybe one of us could swing by and pick you up-you are NOT in this alone and we would ALL be willing to listen, give advice and help out-some even have sample letters of what they sent in appeals etc (I know I saved mine and so did many others) and we know you want AND need this life saving surgery so we would love to get together with you and go over that. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Janet