greensleeve

Ok thanks for the information!

Please don't take offense at the addiction comments. My grandfather was a severe alcoholic who was in and out of rehab at least eight times and got DWIs, was blacking out and had liver and brain damage. I am just so angry that I wasted 10 months when they could have told me this at the beginning! If it's only a waiting period, I have proof that I went to the seminar in February, that I've been to two support group meetings since then. I'm just so devastated and I'm trying so hard not to be a negative b&tch in my real life. This feels like a safe place to vent.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your support, advice and thoughts. I just got back from shopping for pants. I hate shopping. I just really want this nightmare to be over.

Using this same reasoning....why should insurance pay for addicts to go to rehab? The rates of failure are huge! Should an alcoholic have to go to their doctor once a month for six months to monitor their sobriety? That's crazy. My insurance pays for cancer patients to have very expensive treatments regardless of how many months they have left to live. why should we pay to get another few months out of someone? See that line of thinking is crazy when it comes to other things but not when you are overweight. Then it's ok.

They are just hoping you will change insurance, go to Mexico, get pregnant, die, give up or lose your job so they don't have to pay.

They want to be sure they're not wasting their money....I'd like to see scientific proof that people who visit their magic doctor for 6 months have a higher success rate. I highly doubt it. To me that is what the psych eval and five year history should be for. It's just a stall tactic. If someone has heart disease and it could get better with diet and exercise, they just do sugery. It seems like more fat discrimination.

All it says is they have to determine if its medically necessary. Doesn't say how they determine that.

Does anyone know about plus one airfare? Do they get a discount or do you just have to pay normal fare?

It's just so hard after waiting a whole year! I literally don't think I can do more research. To say I have been obssessed is an understatement. I just find the six month requirement insulting. I have been told by a number of doctors that if I don't get off of Paxil Im not going to lose, and i can't get off of it. In addition not being able to work and being in pain all the time doesn't help.

Loose change, thanks! That's a good point about less exposure to bacteria.

Thanks. I don't understand how some people with my insurance aren't required to do the six months but some people are. From what I've been told every employer plan is different. it does say they will take WW in the last two years so that is good. Now I wait for that. I think I'm going to write a letter to them too.

All I can find is that notification is required for treatment of morbid obesity to determine if it is medically necessary. I can't find anything that specifies a six month diet or a five year history. Any idea where that might be on the site? Thanks in advance

I can't find them!

I have called three times asking for a copy of the policy only to be transferred three times and put on hold for twenty minutes. It's through my h's employer. I'm going to ask him to ask his HR for a copy of it.

I have called three times asking for a copy of the policy only to be transferred three times and put on hold for twenty minutes. It's through my h's employer. I'm going to ask him to ask his HR for a copy of it.

I was just reading reviews online. It's scary to me that they do surgery in a strip mall.

The funny thing is I'm basing this on experience. Two years ago we went to Cancun on our honeymoon. The last day we were there my husband stepped on a piece of glass by the pool on the way back from the beach. The medic came and washed his foot off with a used plastic bottle filled with some liquid with sharpie writing on it. He knew nothing about first aid. Nothing. So yeah it scares me. At the same time I know that everything depends on where you go and I'm sure if they are tailoring to Americans and Canadians they are going to have to be good. I'm just so glad that I have an option.

What kind of tests do you have to do before they give you a date?

How much did it cost?

I can get up to six weeks of fully paid short term disability. Hell I might stay in Mexico for a few more days....lol. My husband thinks Im nuts to even think about Mexico. I guess I like to be in control and I don't want to spend another six months jumping through hoops to be denied again. I'm going to submit the WW stuff and write a letter and if it's denied after that I'll reassess.

Does anyone have good information on how this works? What is included, how do you get from airport, is it safe? Who do you do follow up with back in the US?

I think I'd rather go to Mexico. I have the money on my 401k I can withdraw for medical need. I feel like if I lose on the diet they will deny me for being under 40 BMI but if I don't lose they will say I obviously can't lose weight. I have dieted SO much I just can't bring myself to do it again. I just want to cry. Thanks for your support. Both of you.

It's a long story but a year ago I fell and tore a tendon and bruised an ankle bone. It still hurts, I can't walk more than a few blocks without being in severe pain. I started researching in February and had the surgeon call UHC. They said I just needed a 5 year history over 40 BMI. I called twice and was told the same thing. In the meantime I've gone to seminars, support groups, spent hours and hours online researching. I have never spent so much time on deciding anything. Finally I decided for sure, went to all the tests. Had to make up all the time off work. They finally submit and I get a denial because they want me to do a six month diet. I'm 41, I have done every diet known to man, hypnotherapy, supplements, psychotherapy, and exercise. I've been told if I don't lose my ankle won't heal. But I can't work out because of the pain. I'm on an antidepressant that causes weight fIn and makes weught loss almost impossible. I have tried numerous times to get off of it. I even have taken other medication and nothing works. I am trying to get my WW history but they are playing games with me. I was thinning maybe after surgery I might go back but not now. Because I'm not a current member they won't just print off a receipt. After I went through this a week ago and was emailed my receipts for the online tools only. Today they say they have to fill out a form to have a department email me my reveille which takes 7 business days. I feel fat and ugly. I hate my clothes. I have moments when I think I don't want to go on if I can't have the surgery. I'm thinking I may just end up having it in Mexico. Trying to keep my head up but I feel so down.

I feel the same way. I hate getting my picture taken. Im depressed and it's hard for me to want to go our and do things. You aren't alone.

That went really well! He was very friendly and confident, I don't have to do all the pre-op tests thank god. I wasn't looking forward to a stress test with my ankle still hurting. So now I have to schedule my tests and get my stupid PCP to fill out her paperwork. I might have to change PCPs.