Nancy C.
April 12, 2009
Apr 12, 2009
Okay, so I've never done this blog thing before but I thought it might be good for my mental health.I'm tired of waiting... It has been almost a year now (May 29, 2008) that I had to have emergency surgery to have my lap band removed (postier slip). At the time, my surgeon assured me that I would be back in surgery in just a few weeks to either receive a replacement or a revision, which ever I decided. WRONG!!!
Immediately following the day I returned home and was well enough to sit at my computer I started with my insurance company (BCBS of IL - they suck!). I went through all the processes that they asked for, they asked for things that I had previously provided, every time I turned around they said they didn't have something when I knew that I had already provided it. I started up the chain of command within my company - nothing. Finally, I received an official denial. I personally appealed the denial countering everything that they had pointed out. They told me that I had only one chance for an appeal. My appeal was denied (for completely stupid reasons). So, I hired an attorney in early November, 2008.
Meanwhile, my surgeon moved across the state (too far for me to drive) and I had to find another surgeon that would consider a revision for me. I had to wait until January to get in to see him. Once I finally got in to see him, we started the battle of gathering all of my information from all the different doctors that I had seen over the years. Finally, my attorney submitted my first appeal in February, 2009. Guess what? I was denied - for the weakest reason ever! They stated in their review that in my last visit to my doctor I admitted that I was eating too much. What the hell? If you knew anything about the lap band at all (anything at all) you would know that is a sign that you need to see the doctor, something isn't right with the lap band, and you probably need a fill! Stupid!
So here we are, April 12, 2009, my attorney is collecting the physician's review from BCBS of IL and then we file another appeal. And then we wait... again.
I'm sick of waiting. I'm sick of the insurance company's being able to say what is in the best interest of my health. When did the insurance company's get to take over and over rule the decisions of the doctors? Don't we pay good money for an educated physician that is able to determine the best approach for my personal health? No one at the insurance company ever called me and asked me how I feel today. BCBS doesn't call me and ask me how my back feels or how much longer I think my knees will hold up! I hate insurance companies. Somewhere in this whole societial approach to "checks and balances" (if that's what you want to call it) we lost sight of who should really be in charge of our health.
I don't know how much longer I can take this. I have gained back all the weight that I managed to lose with the lap band plus extra (you know how that goes - you always get extra whether you want it or not). I'm severly depressed most all the time. I don't want to do anything that is even remotely social (which is not typical for me), I want to keep myself locked up in the house all the time, I have to force myself to go to work and when I'm there, all I want to do is stay in my office, which is not good for my career at all. I cry most all the time - I basically hate myself.
All I want is for the insurance company to honestly review my records and seriously look at they story they tell. Stop thinking about the money because I'm sure I've covered the cost over the years of my weekly contribution. I just don't know how much more of this I can take.
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About Me
Dallas, TX
Location
29.7
BMI
Surgery
08/03/2009
Surgery Date
Sep 06, 2006
Member Since
