gaining weight to qualify for surgery?

[Sassygirl06 962]

Just a heads up for those of you still trying to be approved for surgery by insurance....the TODAY show is reporting on a "new trend" where people are gaining weight to qualify for wls......

This might put a huge wrench in some peoples plans if the insurance company's decide to change policys that you must show longer weight loss waiting periods, or longer times of obisity being recorded by your doctors.

[Was a humpty dumpty 35]

I posted a story from MSN a few days ago , they where writing about the same subject.

[Was a humpty dumpty 35]

NBC is already pissing me off. Brian Williams was talking about the story that is coming up, " The growing trend women packing who are on the pounds to qualify for WLS".

[Carrie T 14]

The insurance company's make it this way! My BCBS group told me to qualify that I had to stay at 40 bmi during the entire 6 month monitored exercise/diet plan. I have been at 38-39 for the past 5+ years. Instead of gaining 15 pounds and keeping it on for a half a year, I'm going to Mexico!!! No fuss, No red tape, no hassles.

[Felicia 28]

I hate that! I have struggled with my weight all my life. I have always had to diet just to stay "obese". If they put me on a supervised diet after all the hoops I have jumped through I will seriously flip out.

I had a BMI of 39 and co-morbids when I started this, they better leave me alone. Those dang insurance companies.

Can't they leave us alone. What about people who are scamming welfare and food stamps? Isn't that a bigger story. Or people scamming unemplyment and disability? I mean seriously. Sorry I am on a rant now, it just makes me so mad.

[Tai29 17]

I can't see how this can become a "trend". My insurance company had some of the easiest qualifications to meet, and even they wanted to see 5 year weights and dates. So basically you have to have been 100 lbs overweight for a minimum of 5 years before they even consider you eligible and they want medical records from physician's within the past 5 years to prove it.

[Sassygirl06 962]

i didnt have to prove anything for my insurance. i got my insurance in january of this year...went to the doctor in april for my weight. he asked me how long i have been overweight and i said 15 years, he said...thats good enough for me. that was all it took....but this show might make it harder for others to get that approval, which totally sucks.