Re: Question: Can an employer refuse paid sick leave for this surgery?

[Guest guest]

,

INHO they cannot refuse you because this surgery is medically necessary

and not elective.

Mama B

Manary wrote:

>

> This may be the dumbest question of all time, but it just occurred to

> me today, and I won't be able to rest until I've been reassured.

> I've been approved by my primary and secondary insurance for this

> surgery, and have set a tentative date for surgery with Dr. on

> January 9th or 11th. Everything seems to be a " go " , but someone

> planted the thought in my head today that perhaps this surgery would

> be seen as " elective surgery " because it's weight-loss related, thus

> making me ineligible for sick leave at work and short-term

> disability. Has this ever, ever happened to anyone with this

> surgery? I work for Delta Air Lines, and I do know that after the

> 5th consecutive day out on sick leave, you have to call a Plan

> Administrator, and they contact the doctor to work out a plan for how

> long you will be out of work. The really scary part is that this plan

> is administered by AETNA, the insurance from hell as far as DS

> surgery approvals are concerned!!! They're not paying for my surgery

> (BCBS of Alabama is through my husband's employment, and our

> secondary, Champus Tricare, is also through my husband being retired

> military). What do you think? Bear in mind that I haven't even told

> them at work yet, so maybe I'm getting myself all worked up over

> nothing. I HOPE that's the case! I'm hoping that I'll get tons of

> replies, reassuring me that an employer HAS to grant sick leave and

> pay short-term disability for this surgery because it IS life-

> threatening. Wouldn't it be the ultimate kicker if I jumped through

> all these hoops and sweated out the insurance approvals, only to be

> told by my employer that I couldn't take paid sick leave and short-

> term disability? Please respond if you know anything about this

> before I go out of my mind with worry.

>

> Thanks...

>

> in Alabama

> Sick with worry!

> BMI: 56 and counting

> Tentative surgery date of Jan 9th or 11th

>