WLS for depression?

I decided to take a different approach with my Insurance. The exclusion says it will not cover surgery for obesity. So... Because I am clinically depressed w/ anxiety, I am going file a claim and use depression/anxiety as the main reason. I have a letter from my Dr supporting the claim. (Because I'm so large, 54 BMI and my terrible childhood, I am a depressant with anxiety and PTSD) Has anyone ever tried this approach? Anything is worth a try!

Thanks.

How will WLS cure your depression?  You say your depression is due to a terrible childhood (mine is, too, along with PTSD).  But surgery will not change your childhood.  I haven't seen any studies showing WLS is an effective treatment for depression, the way it is an effective treatment for diabetes.  I'd actually be surprised if you could pass the pre op psych eval if you tell them you think having WLS is going to cure your depression.

It's worth a try.  Let us know how it pans out.

I suffer from depression and several types of anxieties and I find it insulting that you would use this to get what you want. You are cheating the system.. I hope you don't get caught as they may consider it insurance fraud

 Obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, back/extremity pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, and depression. Surgical weight loss can markedly improve if not resolve many of these comorbidities.

 

 

In some cases depression is consider a Co morbidity

GO FOR IT!!!

I agree it could be considered insurance fraud, and you are using another disability that is so hard on others to get what you want. Depression, anxiety and PTSD is nothing to play around with. I have a very good friend that is very ill and cannot work because of depression and anxiety. Honestly if your doctor is supporting this both you and your doctor could be in trouble regarding insurance fraud. 

 

I guess I don't understand how it would be insurance fraud. I am depressed because I am obese. I am obese because i find comfort in food. If my psychiatrist and my psychologist both think my depression can be managed with meds and weight loss, why not give it a try. i am not committing fraud if i am not making false claims.

I find it insulting to be accused of committing insurance fraud.  Fraud means "fake"and my depression, obesity is not at all fake!

 

I don't see how it would be fraud, either, if you really are depressed.  I just don't see how losing weight would resolve the depression.  WLS won't cause you to stop finding comfort in food.  Therapy can help you find other ways to comfort yourself, but surgery won't fix that.

You said "I decided to take a different approach with my Insurance. The exclusion says it will not cover surgery for obesity. So... Because I am clinically depressed w/ anxiety, I am going file a claim and use depression/anxiety as the main reason".  

You say you find it insulting to be accused of insurance fraud.... if you were not doing anything wrong you would not find it insulting

So you KNOW that your insurance will not cover WLS for obesity, however you would not need WLS if you were not obese. I hope to God you get accepted I really do however just because your doctor may back you up does not mean you will get it also here is the definitions of fraud.

fraud  

/frôd/  

 

Noun Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. A person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.