Will My Insurance Cover My Weight Loss Surgery?
That’s always the concern. Insurance coverage for obesity is crucial, given that it is a persistent epidemic affecting over 75% of adults in the United States who fall outside the healthy BMI range. Losing weight independently becomes increasingly challenging once an individual reaches obesity levels, particularly if they have maintained a high BMI for an extended period.
Bariatric surgery can help these individuals with weight loss when they also make some necessary lifestyle changes. Bariatric surgeries work by restricting the amount of food an individual can eat and many also block the body’s ability to absorb all the nutrients and calories that are ingested. Most patients lose a significant amount of weight after undergoing bariatric surgery.
How Am I Going To Afford Weight Loss Surgery?
If your health is suffering and you need bariatric surgery, there is a chance that your insurance company will cover some types of bariatric surgery. Since the inception of The Affordable Care Act, almost one-half of the U.S. states are required to cover weight loss surgery. The state of Georgia is not included in this list but falls under a 1999 Federal law that mandates coverage for morbid obesity.
First Steps To Navigating The Weight Loss Insurance Maze
The first step you should take is to read your policy and find out which procedures your insurance company covers and what you must do to qualify for the procedure. Most patients can access the details of their plan online and/or call the insurance company’s toll-free number if they have questions.
The next step is to find a bariatric surgeon who accepts your insurance and set up a consultation. The surgeon’s office should have a person who handles the insurance paperwork and this person should become your best buddy! Unless you have an obscure insurance company, chances are they have worked with this company previously and will at least have a basic understanding of the inner workings of that insurance company (at least when it comes to bariatric surgery coverage)
Every insurance company will have requirements that you must meet to qualify for coverage. One of these requirements may be that you have tried and failed to lose weight through other methods. These attempts must be documented. The forms of documentation required will vary by insurance company and may include:
- Food Journals.
- Nutritionist Visits.
- Gym Memberships.
- Weight Loss Journals.
- Jenny Craig Memberships.
- Structured Weight Watchers Program.
- Previous Medically Supervised Weight Loss Diets.
Weight Loss Surgery and Insurance Coverage
According to The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the average cost for bariatric surgery runs anywhere between $17.000 and $26,000 but the exact cost will be dependent on the type of surgery you have, your overall health, and current BMI, and if you encounter any complications, etc.
There is much evidence to support that the cost of surgery is much less than treating the associated obesity-related conditions long-term. Most insurance companies will cover gastric sleeve surgery but not the less expensive non-surgical options such as a Gastric Balloon or Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty has a proven track record of delivering results comparable to gastric sleeve surgery. It does not require surgery, it is less expensive, has fewer complications, and offers a faster recovery. This FDA-approved weight loss procedure is gaining popularity and has proven to result in significant weight loss.
Even with the supporting evidence and FDA approval, insurance companies do not yet cover non-surgical EGS and currently only cover expensive surgery. Insurance companies in general are slow to cover new procedures, but most bariatric surgeons feel that endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty will be covered by insurance companies in the future because it would benefit all parties.
What Insurance Companies Cover Weight Loss Surgery
This is a tough question to answer for a few reasons including:
- Within insurance companies, there are several different plans available. One plan may cover bariatric surgery and others may not. Make sure you pay attention to all the details when choosing a plan:
- Plan and coverage details can change from year to year and even if you continue with the same plan, your premium may go up or they may change certain aspects of the coverage.
Patients face many challenges when attempting to navigate their way through all the confusing insurance requirements, qualifications, documentation, etc. We found this handy tool for checking insurance coverage online from a bariatric surgery source. Use this tool as a guideline and always check with your insurance company about the details of your specific plan.
If you are planning to have bariatric surgery and your insurance carrier does not currently offer this coverage, if possible, make a plan to switch companies during the open enrollment period. In the interim, begin working on the prerequisites required by your chosen insurance plan and gathering the required documentation.
Does Medicaid Cover Weight Loss Surgery?
Most Medicaid plans do cover some bariatric surgeries including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and gastric lap band surgery. They have a qualifying process like other insurance companies but will also treat adolescents. The challenge may be finding a bariatric surgeon who accepts Medicaid as their reimbursement rate to doctors is usually lower than other forms of medical insurance.
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Weight Loss Surgery?
Some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans do cover bariatric surgery but you should check your plan for exact coverage. Here is an example of what BCBS requires and covers for bariatric surgery.
Requirements to qualify for surgery include:
- Must be 18+.
- Must have a doctor’s diagnosis of morbid obesity which includes; a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40+ or 35+ and have a weight-related illness such as:
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- Hypertension.
- Sleep apnea.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- A cardiopulmonary condition.
- Other serious medical condition that is life-threatening and weight-induced.
- Hypertension.
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- Patients must also have gone through a structured diet program within 2 years preceding the request for the surgery. Qualifying programs would include or be similar to one structured diet program such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers for 6 consecutive months or two 3-month such programs that are completed and non-concurrent.
- Patients must undergo a psychological exam. This exam helps determine if the patient understands and is committed to actively implementing and following the necessary lifestyle changes. These changes are essential for achieving weight loss and maintaining it after the surgery.
This Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan Covers These Bariatric Surgeries:
The Policy States It Does Not Cover:
What Can I Do If Weight Loss Surgery Isn’t Covered By My Insurance?
If you want to pursue bariatric surgery but do not have insurance there are some things you can consider.
- Most bariatric surgeons offer flexible financing plans.
- To optimize your health insurance coverage for the necessary medical tests before bariatric surgery, collaborate closely with your primary care physician. This approach, albeit discreet, is entirely ethical. Since several of the tests required by the bariatric surgeon are routine and conducted for various purposes, if your primary doctor submits them to the insurance company using general CCP codes instead of weight loss-related codes, there is a possibility that many of them will be covered.
- There are many reasons a doctor would order tests such as:
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- Lab work.
- Sleep Study.
- Cardiology Exam.
- Psychological Exam.
- Medically Supervised Diet Program.
- Lab work.
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The bottom line: If you are suffering from obesity and desire to have weight loss surgery and rely on medical insurance to cover some or all of it, there are things that you can begin to do now so you meet their qualifications.
Start with your primary care physician and a bariatric surgeon to create an individualized plan and then begin to tackle some of the things on your insurance plan’s qualification list.
Weight loss surgery can be a significant financial challenge but do not let that stop you from pursuing this possible life-saving procedure.
To learn more about bariatric surgery, contact IBI Healthcare Institute today and set up a consultation. Let us share details about the weight loss procedure options that may be best for you.
Our dedicated staff will discuss the surgery cost and flexible financing options during your consultation. You can also attend our online bariatric seminar to learn more about bariatric surgery and the non-surgical alternatives available.
