"you are just a fat fucking slob who doesn't give a shit about herself"

[Bertha Venation]

This is the message from my insurance company.

"You want us to what?! Accept your copay for weekly visits to a medical weight loss program? Your copay is only $30! Why, that program costs $380 for the intake appointment and testing, and $125 per weekly visit! Not including the products! You must be joking.

"What's that? Why would we rather pay for your after-care if you have a stroke or get diabetes or some other disease because of your obesity? Please. Get over yourself. Honestly, everyone knows that all you have to do is eat right and exercise.

"And if you can't -- or, more like, won't <smirk> -- do that, then you are just a fat fucking slob, a lazy-ass loser who doesn't give a shit about herself." *click*

I hate insurance companies.

Edit: No. Sorry, folks. They did not say these words to me. But from the two phone fairies I've talked to this week, this is the exact attitude that comes across.

I'm just FURIOUS.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Why don't insurance companies get it?

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Hey, if you live longer, then you'll pay premiums longer...go figure!

Good luck in dealing with these nincompoops.

[aquaman]

12. Insurance companies don't get it because...

most companies think with a republican frame of mind, meaning that they don't think of the long-term consequences of anything. For example, many companies are not reimbursing patients for preventive medical procedures. Morons, in the long-run, because of this practice, they likely would lose money if they didn't just raise our premiums to offset their stupidity. So, until people start raising hell about the cost of insurance and health care the insurance industry will maintain their ignorant ways.

[libertad]

22. Insurance companies are not social programs, they are "for profit"

(mainly) businesses. They have no interest in anyone and exist to make money. It is an unacceptable system we have and we need to do something about it.

[ArkDem]

28. Profit is Satan's greatest tool!!!!

[pagerbear]

2. A representative of the insurance company said that to you?

I hope you got said representative's name and are writing an angry letter (you've shown us how skillful you are at writing) to the insurance and copying your HR people.

[Bertha Venation]

7. No. Sorry for misleading you all. See edited post.

[sniffa]

3. are you serious - those words?

they caLLed you that?

[LynneSin]

4. WOW, I'm speechless but this smilie says it best

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. That's why I am glad all my wealth comes from suing them

:D

I'm with ya

Seriously though, Bertha....I know you've tried it all (or at least I think you said you did) but you will find far more emotional support from weight watchers than from the medical community...while there are many good caring doctors...for the most part they are snobs who really do think that.

[Bertha Venation]

9. The specific program I intend to use will offer that support.

I need medical help. I am one level of desperation away from bariatric surgery, and since I will NEVER put myself through that, I am at the end of my rope. This program (see George Washington University Hospital Weight Management Program) is what I need.

I found it early this year, went to their extensive orientation -- then I just learned yesterday that a woman I work with, who has lost about 90 lbs in the last two years, did it through this program. I had known about her success but never knew how she did it.

You sue insurance companies?! You rock!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Well....if you set up a pay pal..I would donate

Fuck your insurance company...

[Misunderestimator]

23. Me too, Bertha.... seriously.

... and there's nothing shameful in doing that.

[Bertha Venation]

34. oh, my...

gee, folks

[Bertha Venation]

33. you would?

:wow:

[lovedems]

11. My sister has always struggled with her weight and found a lot of support

in weight watchers. She is a different person after finding that group. She is confident, happy and losing weight.

She is 6 feet tall and was heartbroken when she went to a doctor who told her she needed to weigh 120-130 lbs! She cried for days saying she didn't think she could achieve that goal.

She is happy now, thank God.

[supernova]

14. 6 ft tall and

120-130? :wtf: kind of drugs was that doc on? that's way too little for someone that size.

I weigh 120, and I'm 5 feet even.

[lovedems]

16. That is what I told her. She would look disgusting if she weighed that

much for as tall as she is! She was devastated when HE told her that.

With the help of her friends at weight watchers she has lost 30 lbs. and has an excellent support group.

[Misunderestimator]

18. Yeah, really! 120-130 pounds at 6 feet....?

:wtf: I'm only 5'9" and my ideal weight is 135-140. She must be the narrowest woman in the world.

[lovedems]

20. That was the irony. He was giving her bunk medical advice!

Of course it didn't help matters becasue my dad is very "looks oriented" and agreed with the doctor. It put added pressure on her and I think for awhile she actually put on weight due to stress.

You have to find the plan that works best for you and I think your insurance company should be there helping you find that plan and paying for it.

We have several different treatment plans for cancer, alzheimers, aids, etc. It should be the same with weight loss. It should be an individual plan not just "eat right and excersise".

[Misunderestimator]

15. A colleague of mine at work was about 150 pounds overweight...

Had tried everything... After 9 months doing weight watchers, he has lost 120 pounds. His doctor had him scared straight last year since he has heart disease and the makings of diabetes.

On the other hand, some people cannot make that work for them and really do require a medical alternative.

It absolutely sucks that obesity is not treated as a medical condition and covered by insurance the way any other life-threatening condition would be.

Sorry for your experience in this Bertha... I hope that you can put enough pressure on them to do the right thing, but then, we're talking insurance companies. What crap.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. Actually it IS if your primary care doctor prescibes it

So if Bertha has other medical conditions that REQUIRE weight loss and the doc prescribes it they pay more than of she simply inquires

Making it a medical necessity in her chart is the key

( and this SHOULD be true for most policies)

[m-jean03]

6. edited for edited post

Well, that's almost as bad. I mean, attitude says everything. Geez, don't know what to tell you. They're still stupid and ignorant moneygrubbers. :grr:

[supernova]

8. Yes, I've never understood it either

Not willing to pay for preventive care. Hello!! Costs less! But will instead spend megabucks when you get your first heart attack.

I think it's beacause to a degree in this country, we see these things as moral lapses rather than heath issues to be worked on.

Sorry you're getting that from the insurance company, Bertha. :pals: :hug: It is a rotten way to treat people.

Could you get the MD of the program to work with you to find a reason they would accept?

Edit: how do they work it out with other patients? I'm sure not all their clients are self-financing this venture.

[Bertha Venation]

39. "I'm sure not all their clients are self-financing this venture."

The woman at work who lost so much in this program, "Betty," told me that they bend over backwards to code your receipts in a way that the insurance company will reimburse you to the fullest extent possible. Betty said they worked with her extensively and she was reimbursed to a far greater extent than she expected.

Since none of the medical professionals in the practice (there are about 20) are providers under my insurance, it's cash up front. I'm sure that a lot of their clients use plastic. Unfortunately I don't have that option.

[MallRat]

10. 1 oz, prevention versus 1 lb., cure? The pound wins everytime.

Why do insurance companies constantly skimp on preventative health?

Because the profit margin is bigger for a triple bypass than a visit to a dietician.

More procedures, more money.

-MR

[ArkDem]

29. The insurance companies make money when paying for

a medical procedure? Wow, I've got a lot to learn about those monsters.

[MissMillie]

13. Alcoholism is a medical condition

But alcoholics don't get treated this way..... they get help. Alcoholics don't get told "Just don't drink!"

When are insurance companies going to realize that obesity is a MEDICAL CONDITION!

[eyesroll]

17. Phone people suck.

:hug:

Why don't these idiots get it? It's not even compassion (which of course they are lacking) -- it makes financial sense.

(It's the same with things like contraception and outpatient mental-health treatment -- you pay now to prevent major, much more expensive things later...Stupid insurers.)

[Flaxbee]

19. might sound naive, but do you have a Democrat as a state or

federal rep? How about talking to Mikulski's or Sarbanes' health staffer? You should call and raise holy hell, esp. now that obesity has become such a red-flag issue. Call them every single day and complain. And set it out as you did in this post, that it seems the insurance company would rather you had a stroke or develop diabetes than pay for a little preventive care.

Be a nuisance, and hassle your rep. until something gets done. Write your paper and name your insurance company. Don't back down, point out that government regulates the insurance companies so is the message that they really don't give a shit about the issue and are just using it as election year drivel?

If you have the temperament for it -- because it is a personal issue -then embarrass the holy hell out of your insurance company and maybe you can be the person who helps to get the insurance companies off their smug idiotic asses.


edited for spelling and punctuation...

[Bertha Venation]

24. This is excellent advice.

I think I will spend some time on the weekend working on this. I'll contact the health care & legislative directors for both senators and Steny Hoyer to start.

Thank you!

[Flaxbee]

25. You're welcome!

And let us know how it goes...

I used to be a lawyer in DC, I worked for 6 years out of law school and quit 2 years ago, I just could not STAND the institutionalized bullshit and the almost incomprehensible tendency for the (predominantly male) lawyers to do NOTHING about real issues and stand around and bicker over trivial crapola; they'd only really get their dander up if their precious egos had been insulted. I just didn't fit in b/c I'd step up and start to holler about things like you just mentioned -- insurance companies screwing the insured (unless the insured was a partner of the firm repping the insurance co., of course).

Anyway, my tendency is to get in the face of those who are stupid and/or those who need my vote! Good luck!

[Bertha Venation]

31. hmmm...

You must be familiar w/ my firm. site

I'm happy for you that you escaped!

[Lindacooks]

27. I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES

They screwed us over by claiming that my husband's cancer treatment bills were 'above the area norm', as if two 25-year-olds should have called around to compare treatment prices when reeling from a cancer diagnosis.

They are pure evil, existing only to make money for themselves.

[pagerbear]

30. Would they pay for an in-patient eating disorders clinic?

Same as rehab for an alcoholic or drug addict?

[Bertha Venation]

32. good question -- probably, but under the same provisions as for mental

health treatment.

[jpgray]

35. As Dick Gregory would say

The whole concept of health insurance is slightly ridiculous--they are betting that you won't get sick, and you are betting that you will. And you are hoping that they will win. :crazy:

[mrboba1]

36. Bertha, I PM'ed you.

Please read.

[geniph]

37. You might consider contacting the state insurance commissioner

that's part of their function, to investigate patient complaints of unfairly denied coverage. If you have a hardcore insurance commissioner, they can really hold the company's feet to the fire. It's the worst kind of chicanery to collect premiums for years and then deny coverage - it's like running a slot machine that's programmed to never allow the player to win, ever. Vegas has NOTHING on the insurance companies when it comes to shell games.

[Bertha Venation]

38. PHOTOS OF NAKED WOMEN HERE! CLICK NOW!

I bet the first person who clicked on the link for this post was the infantile asshole (a childish conservative, no doubt, if not a lurking freeper) who posted a rude comment to my guest book in another's name.

Chickenshit coward. Post under your own worthless name, loser.