don't know that i can offer any help on this, but i too am being treated for serious mental illness problems and i just had surgery almost two weeks ago. tell her to fight for the surgery. if it's the surgeon who refuses her, tell her to look for another. a good surgeon will look at her treatment and how long she's been stable. i was required to be stable 6 consecutive months before my surgeon would consider me. then i had to battle insurance for another six or so months, but it's been a longer process then that. i started batttling my insurace 2 years ago already. tell her to fight if it's the insurance. when they give a denial or notice of no decision, have her find out why and then have her do whatever it is they want her to do. i had to do that for a very long time and i was hanging on for dear life with bad health and a constant fear i'd die from my weight. it took a lot of fighting and support to wait out the insurance to approve me. she can do this. it takes a lot of fighting the insurance sometimes though. every insurance is different. some are easier then others. sounds like she, like me, had a hard one to fight. i hope this offers her a little hope. i had a really hard time gaining coverage for it, but i fought a long, hard battle for this. i know she can too!

i have Medicare and medicade and im disable, my inc, told me because of my sleep Apnea
and been treated for high blod pressure for many years that i cn get it,, what is your inc's name, i had no problem its just here im on a waiting list of 3 months get my surgey feb,

I agree with Minnesota - if she is determined to get the surgery, this will only be a setback. If it is the psych that is saying "She shouldn't get it" Find a new psych. If it is the surgeon refusing, talk to a new surgeon. If it is the insurance, than buckle down and get ready for appeals.

If she is in a place where she has the strength to do that, then they are wrong and she should be able to get it. If she doesn't.. then it's just not the right time for her to get the surgery.

I don't mean to sound so callous and mean... I'm sorry!!!

Your friend needs to have a surgeon who is attending in a 'Center of Excellance'. The reason why is, they are better able to help her coordinate her appeals. It will probly take a year or more for her to get to her day of surgery.

If it is Dr.'s ( Psych or surgeon), that are not approving her for surgery then they might have valid reasons.This is not saying they will never give approval. It just means your friend will have to talk to them and see what they think she needs to do to change their mind(s).

If it is the Insurance Company that has denied approval, then they have reason, It will be written someplace on her letter of denial. If it is for psychiatric reasons, then it may be all she needs to do is get Psychiatric clearance first! This is usually just agreeing to some serious counseling.

In a nut shell, I have the same advice, she must appeal. Keep trying. She has to be the one to do it so they know she is committed to her decision.
God Bless!

Janelle

I wanted to weigh in here, but only to say I think you all are right on track. I think your friend needs to have an honest talk with her surgeon and psych to find out their rationale for denying her surgery. They may have good reasons and she deserves to know what those reasons are.

But if they don't seem to have good reasons, by all means she should look around for different providers and get second opinions.

Good luck to your friend on finding out what's best for her.