I have been diagnosed with severe stenosis of the lumbar spine at L2/L3, L3/L4, L4/L5 along with herniated disks at L2/L3 and L5/S1. My neurosurgeon insists that I need a laminectomy at the indicated levels and a partial diskectomy at the two levels mentioned. He also insists that I need lumbar fusion at the three levels both to insure spinal stability (I am 260 lbs at 5'8") and to help restore sagittal alignment.
The insurance company will not allow the surgery -- ostensibly because of the fusion -- even though a second neurosurgeon and a spinal surgeon have concurred with my doctor's diagnosis and treatment plan.
Is the insurance company correct that the fusion is "not medically necessary)?