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Weight Loss Surgery Insurance
Most insurance companies today will pay for weight loss surgery procedures that are medically necessary. Meaning that if the patient is left in morbid obesity, the patient is definitely in trouble and will most likely be back for more hospitalization in the forseeable future most likelihood.
The disease of morbid obesity is very life threatening today you will find that once it is diagnosed, it is almost always covered. This is because it is known in the insurance world as a “medical necessity.” Medically necessary conditions must be be dealt with immediately. All insurance companies know that weight loss surgeries are known to lengthen life-span and quality of life for the patients.
Insurance Companies Cover Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgical clinics now ask for the patients for their entire medical work-up along with a pre-authorization request from their insurance company. Many bariatric clinics will want to see documented attempts weight loss that was overseen by a weight loss treatment clinic or specialist. Insurance companies must know the same types of information in order to give you bariatric insurance coverage. The key is that it must be a medical necessity.
Bariatric insurance coverage varies from insurance company to company and across the states. It is important that you speak first with your insurance company, prior to considering bariatric procedures like gastric bypass surgery or speaking with a bariatric surgeon. Find out for yourself about your health insurance.
Your Primary Care Provider & Your Weight Loss Insurance
It is important that everyone who goes through weight loss surgery for severe obesity have a primary care provider already in place. A primary care provider is your medical doctor or registered nurse practitioner. You will need them to coordinates all aspects of your long term medical care following bariatric surgery. They are the ones who will also recommend to you if you fit the profile of a morbidly obese individual to a bariatric specialist.
The bariatric surgeon and your health insurance company will want to see a written referral from your primary health care provider in the approval process in order for you to proceed with seeking help for your severe obesity through weight loss surgery. The primary physician also evaluates your current health conditions so that you can get the final bariatric insurance approval. Bariatric coverage takes time but it is worth it.
Patient Financing – Options for Those Not Covered For Weight Loss Surgery
More often than not, bariatric clinics are offering patient financing for obesity surgery. The financing options vary from clinic to clinic based on the financing company that is teaming up with the clinic, but the bottom line is that they will look at your credit history to determine your credit worthiness. They often have great payment plans so don’t give up on it if you are not covered. It may seem that weight loss surgery cost is high, but imagine not having weight loss surgery insurance!
Candidates for Bariatric Surgery Insurance
To be a fitting candidate for weight loss surgery insurance coverage, an individual must meet particular criteria prescribed by a doctor or insurance company. Illustrative criteria include being overweight by 100 pounds (or 100 percent over your ideal weight), age range between 18 and 60 ears, a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or greater. Other qualifying criteria for weight loss surgery insurance companies to accept you for their coverage include a BMI of between 35 and 40 coupled with one or more of the following conditions: diabetes, adult hypertension, sleeo apnea, etc.
Cost of Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
Presently, the most medically effective way of losing substantial weight and maintaining that weight loss is through laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The expense of weight loss surgery can vary extensively, so it depends on where you want to have your surgery and what doctor and facility will perform the operation. It is important to discuss these kinds of things prior to undergoing the procedures and get the insurance approval for weight loss surgery. You must see first what you insurance covers and doesn’t. Also keep in mind that you may need cosmetic surgery for the excess skin. This may factor into the and your medical insurance may not cover it. be prepared that you might need this done.
While loads of patients have little problems after laparoscopic bariatric surgery, there is a chance for medical complications, both small and large, just as there is with any invasive medical procedure. Health insurance for weight loss surgery make weight loss operations much more accessible, but keep in mind that any surgery is not safe and comes with inherent risk. For many, the cost of not having surgery however, outweighs the possibility of living long term with morbid obesity.
Does Bariatric Surgery Solve Everything?
Sadly, too many bariatric patients think that having surgery is going to answer their obesity problem without further effort. WRONG! That is a pipe dream, FOLKS! It is only after having lap band or gastric bypass surgery that the real fight against fat begins. To start with, it is central for all patients to monitor their post-operative dietary guidelines, about how much, how fast, and what to stay away from. In addition, it is critical to start exercising and to slowly boost your physical fitness in order to get a new hold on life. The first step in all this is the process of insurance approval for bariatric surgery. If this fails, you can’t go any further.
Good luck in your fight against obesity!
