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December 30, 2007

Aetna
PO Box 981107
El Paso, TX 79998-1107

Dear Insurance Provider,

I am requesting your pre-approval for my weight loss surgery. I am a 36 year old female 5 foot 10 inches and 275lbs. My earliest recollection of being overweight was in the third grade. At which time each student in the class was called to the teacher’s desk and weighed. I was terrified to see that I was the only child in the class that was over 100lbs. Since that time I have been conscious of my weight. In high school the diets began one after another, with occasional successful attempts at weight loss. However maintaining the weight loss was and still is the problem. Usually regaining 5-10 or more pounds. I now understand that only 5% of dieters maintain their weight loss long term.

I have had numerous Aetna policies, some of which had exclusions against weight loss surgery and have been denied for weight loss surgery under other policies because my BMI was less than 40 (closer to 37)and I had no major co-morbidities. As a result of not having the procedure sooner and not loosing the excess weight, I now have many co morbidities. I am now type II diabetic, I have obstructive sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, osteoarthritis, depression and my physician attempted to put me on antihypertensive medications at which time I chose to attempt to control my blood pressure with diet and exercise. I believe that all of these disease processes could have been prevented with weight loss surgery earlier. I pray that my health does not have to deteriorate further before I have financial assistance from my insurance carrier for the procedure.

For many years I knew I would reach my weight loss goals, always trying to remain hopeful that every pound I lost would be followed by yet another pound lost never to return. For this reason I saw no need to maintain the records of my weight loss. I never dreamed that this is where I would be today, the weight was suppose to stay off.

Obesity alone decreases life expectancy 2-5 years, add diabetes to that equation and not only is the life expectancy decreased, but so is quality with an increase in cost. The US department of health and human services states that approximately 300,000 deaths a year in the United States can be attributed to obesity many of which are avoidable if weight loss goals had been acheived. Studies indicate that many diseases such as diabetes can be cured with weight loss surgery. Curing diabetes and obesity early also reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, renal failure and hypertension among many other diseases all of which cost patients and insurance companies. The CDC posts that treatment of diseases related to the obese and overweight population cost private insurances $28.1 in 1998 and 9.1% of the total U.S. medical expenditures for the same year.

Obesity personally effects my life in many ways. I have a daughter who has missed out on mother daughter activities such as riding a bicycle together or playing on the floor. I could never describe all of the emotional aspects that being overweight causes to myself and my family. I am a nurse caring for chronically ill children, my obesity has impacted my career in many ways. I have had to decrease my work load as I can not be on my feet for long periods therefore affecting my income.

Please consider these facts in you decision to help save my health now and the remainder of my life..

Thank You,