New Member denied by Humana

[Guest guest]

Hi all! I'm a new member and I promise to introduce myself better in

the future, but right now I'm in trouble and I need your help.

I live in Miami, am 38 5'3 " with an BMI 58.5. I have Lupus (lots of

co-morbidities: arthritis, circulation, slight asthma, sleep apnea,

elevated blood sugar, heart murmer, etc.). My insurance is Humana

HMO (Medicaid). The rats have denied my surgery!

The reason they give is " at least 1 year of a physician supervised

diet. "

Now I go to my doctor's office about once a month ( & get weighed)

and I have been on diets all of this time, but it is no use because

of the prednisone I can't lose any weight no matter what I do. The

diets I've done have all been over the counter (Slim-fast) and " book

diets " (South Beach, Atkins, Pritikin, etc.), but mostly I've been

doing WW on my own (I have the materials from previous attempts, so

I have not attended meetings).

Ok, here come the questions:

* Can I " marry " my attempts with docs weigh-ins?

* Will this work?

* Has anybody else done this?

* How much documentation does one have to have (I don't have it

all journaled, but I did it!)?

* I am completly stumped how to get started, does anybody have

an example of an appeal letter that I can take a look at?

Any and all help is very appreaciated! I am scared out of my mind! I

need this surgery so very badly ...

Thanks for listening to this lunatic

Elsa

330/330/110