does family history make a difference?

[myfavoritewife 0]

Hi,

I am just starting out and I probably have a ton of questions, but one that means the most...

I have always been overweight, since childhood. So it goes my family is also over weight....every one of them.

I never considered surgery until these past 2 months, when my sisters gallbladder exploded (3 weeks in hospital) contributing factor?- obesity

My mom was hospitalized last month with blood clots, and this week with heart attack. contributing factor? obesity

My dad almost lost his leg...from undiagnosed diabetes. Contributing factor? obesity

I have never been so awake to my own weight problem in my life. I know I am not being too hasty, as I have spent a month and a half rolling this over and researching.

My question is, even though I am pretty sure that I am covered (I meet Tri-Care requirements) should I have my doctor submit a 'family history' to kind of boost my case along...and hopefully avoid any of the appealing that I am hearing about?

[Jodi_620 37]

It depends on the insurance but because I didn't have any co-morbidities, I had asked about this and was told that it was not something they generally considered, but they really should. Many people on my Dad's side died of heart disease and young (Dad was only 53). There is diabetes, stroke and cancer on mom's side. Luckily my BMI was .2 above 40 so I qualified without co-morbidities.

As long as you have coverage and you meet their requirements they really can't deny you.

Edited January 26, 2009 by Jodi_620

[Mr. Green 3]

My insurance does not take family history into consideration. All my research I am doing for the band seems to have the same story, everything applies to you. Even with that, it seems like a history of obesity (say from childhood on) does not matter much. What appears to matter is either the last 5 year history (with some insurance companies) or what your weight was when you started with a doc. The main things that they seem to take into consideration is if you have a history of sleep apnea, high blood pressure, problems with blood sugar, and a few more that I can't remember.