What constitues "severe uncontrollable" hypertension?

Hi Everyone! I'm currently in "insurance limbo" right now and the wait is about to kill me! Ok...so it's only been a week since my papers were submitted, but for those of you who are there/been there, you totally know what I mean! So, from my understanding, my insurance (Medical Mutual of Ohio) is good for approval for WLS.  However, my BMI is 40.3 and has been around 37-39 for my 5 year weight history.  However, I have hypertension and have been medicated for it for 6 years.  In the past 6 months, they've had to add an additional medicine and continually up the dosage (fully document on my 6th month diet papers).  But, my first hypertension med was a basic "water pill" that was able to control it.  Now, I'm on "real" BP meds with the water pill. To get WLS covered with a BMI of less than 40, you have to have a co-morbidity.  Medical Mutual only considers FOUR.  One is hypertension, one is sleep apnea, one is joint disease and one is diabetes.  I'm wondering... What constitues "severe uncontrollable" hypertension?  Since mine is controlled through medication...do you think I've got a shot at approval? Thanks in advance for all your answers and wisdom!

If you have hypertension in any way, shape, or form, then your insurance should cover your WLS.

Paul--

I just had to reply to your post here. 

My case was closed due to "unreadable faxes".  I took your advise from that post and had them darkened.  I tried to get an email to send them direct and they said they only accepted records by fax.  At any rate, by the time I was finished getting them darkened, they were darker than the originals.  I faxed them to my surgeon's on Sunday. I called my surgeon's office on Monday afternoon and was told that they hadn't gone through the faxes yet (big disappointment for me...I thought they'd do it first thing Monday morning...guess that really shows my tunnel vision, huh?!? :) Tuesday was a very busy day for me and I didn't make any calls.  On Wednesday, I decided to call my insurance company before leaving to visit family for the holidays.  I was overjoyed when the lady said "You've been approved...you were actually approved yesterday." I couldn't believe it.  She said there was also a note that said "hypertension, hyperlipidemia and significant family history, see notes".  While they claim that high cholesterol and family history were not considered co-morbs, they did make note of them.  I had written a personal letter explaining that I was from a family of 3 siblings....my oldest brother was killed in an accident in 1989 and at the age of 28 had a 95% and a 70% blockage of the arteries.  I also explained that my other brother had his first of 2 heart attacks at the age of 42.  Both had very high cholesterol...and, mines high too.  So, I was choosing the DS because of it's malabsorption factors for cholesterol.  Anyway...to make a long story short...I think that while their policy says that it's not relevant, it is to some extent.  I'm sure if I hadn't had the hypertension, it would not have been approved the first time.  But, I also think having the two other "non-relevant" co-morbs helped pu**** though too. So, now, I'm just waiting on a surgery date! Again, thank you so much for all your help and support!

My insurance policy reads: medically refractory hypertension (blood pressure > 140 mmHg systolic and/or 90 mmHg diastolic despite optimal medical management).
and when I looked up what "medically refractory hypertension" means it basically said that it is high blood pressure that cannot be controlled with 3 medications simultaneously. quote from http://mediwire.mediwire.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content&Art icleID=108324 "Definitions vary, but hypertension is usually considered refractory if BP cannot be reduced below target levels in patients who are compliant with an optimal triple-drug regimen that includes a diuretic. "