Is Weight
Loss Surgery Covered By Insurance
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In the past, many insurance companies did not
pay for weight loss surgery. The surgeries are costly, many
times costing over $25,000. Patients who wanted this option
had to pay for the surgeries by themselves. Now, many
insurance companies are starting to recognize the benefits
of covering most forms of weight loss surgery. Not only do
these surgeries help patients lose weight, but the surgeries
also save the insurance company money in the long run.
Patients who lose weight are less likely to suffer from
other health related issues that can add up big for the
companies.
Insurance coverage from weight loss surgeries
varies by insurance company and state. If you are
considering having this type of surgery, it is important to
work with your doctor and insurance company to see what is
or is not covered. |
Before most insurance companies agree to pay
for these surgeries, patients must meet certain requirements and
must be prepared for approval process to take a considerable
amount of time. In order to be approved for insurance
coverage for weight loss surgery, most companies recommend that
the patient keep detailed records and send everything to their
insurance provider.
Obesity is an expensive health problem. Those
suffering from being overweight have all kinds of other health
related diseases including high blood pressure, arthritis, heart
disease, strokes, respiratory problems, sleep apnea and
diabetes. It is estimated that obese people and insurance
companies spend over $238 billion dollars treating obesity
related health issues. In addition, obese people are more likely
to suffer an early death than those who are of normal weight.
Health insurance companies are starting to realize the amount of
money spent on these illnesses and are beginning to cover most
aspects of weight loss surgery. Covering these types of
surgeries helps both the patient and the insurance company save
a lot of money over a period of time.
The first step in becoming approved for weight loss
surgery is to make sure you meet the National Institutes of Health
criteria. This generally states that patients must be morbidly obese
before qualifying for the surgery. This means that patients
should be 100 pounds or more overweight or twice their body mass index
rating.
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Sometimes insurance companies will allow these types of
surgeries on patients who weight less than 100 pounds, if
that person is suffering from debilitating illnesses that is
directly related to obesity.
Patients considering weight loss surgery
should completely understand their insurance’s company’s
policy concerning these types of surgery. If you call your
insurance company to ask questions, be sure to document all
forms of correspondence. In addition, before seeing a weight
loss surgeon, it is always a good idea to get a referral
from your primary care doctor and make sure you have their
support. Insurance companies are more likely to approve a
surgery when they know another doctor feels the procedure is
necessary. It is also recommended that a potential weight
loss surgery patient have documentation and detailed records
of everything related to their weight related issues. This
includes weight loss programs, diet centers and fitness club
memberships. |
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