Insurance For Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric Bypass Insurance

Gastric bypass surgery (also called bariatric surgery) having been validated by the medical fraternity is fast gaining momentum and is covered under Health Insurance for most. However, some insurance companies still do not cover any weight loss surgery and even if your insurance company offers the coverage that does not mean that you will be automatically covered.

Assuming your doctor agrees that you are a candidate for gastric bypass surgery, you should contact your insurance company to verify that they cover weight loss surgery and what has to be done to qualify. Some insurance companies only cover this surgery if it is life threatening not to have it or there is medical evidence that your weight is attributing to your health conditions and most insurance companies will not approve the procedure if they feel you can lose weight by alternative means.

To get gastric bypass surgery approved by your insurance you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 45 or above, have your doctor write a letter giving his/her approval and have documented attempts at losing weight. If the surgery qualifies for coverage, your insurance carrier may require both physical and psychological clearances as part of the gastric bypass preparation.

Even if your insurance company will not cover the actual procedure, they may cover one or more of the other costs related to your gastric bypass such as testing to determine eligibility for gastric bypass surgery, pre-admission testing, in-hospital costs, surgeon and other doctor fees, and post-surgery medication and care.

More and more insurance companies are beginning to see obesity as a serious health disorder and have begun to cover some of the cost of gastric bypass surgery and are improving insurance coverage for obesity surgery.