Expenses incurred in bariatric surgery are generally not covered by a basic health insurance policy. However, insurers today offer the option of obtaining bariatric surgery insurance as additional coverage by paying a small additional premium. All you need to do is do some research if you need to pay more on your health insurance policy, or if all expenses are covered, as they will vary from insurance plan to insurance plan and insurance company to insurance company. Bariatric surgery is generally not covered with most insurers in the base policy.
However, today's health insurers offer an option where you add this benefit to your health insurance policy by paying a small additional premium. If you plan to undergo weight-loss surgery, but your current policy doesn't cover it, you have the option of enrolling in a new policy during open enrollment that provides coverage for bariatric surgery. However, with the changing needs of the world and technical advances, many insurance companies are now considering bariatric surgery. Some insurance companies have a mandatory three-month weight control protocol that you must complete before surgery.
But when you have a lot of weight to lose, and if exercise and diet aren't enough, you might consider weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery. Insurers require prior authorizations for many procedures and tests as a way to reduce what they consider unnecessary. Read on to learn which states require insurance plans to cover bariatric surgery and the typical insurance criteria for bariatric surgery coverage. Find out how Wellbe's personalized care automation can help you streamline insurance approvals and billing, as well as hundreds of other non-medical administrative tasks.
You may find it helpful to send a copy of your appeal letter to your state insurance commissioner or the department of corporations if you are covered by an HMO plan. In addition, some weight-loss surgeries alter the digestive process, limiting the absorption of calories and nutrients. Let's understand what bariatric surgery or weight-loss surgery is and how health insurance can help. Today, most insurance companies that cover weight loss surgery cover gastric banding, laparoscopic gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve surgery.
Once you have completed these steps, the surgeon will send a prior authorization request letter to your insurance company. Most insurance companies also require that their patient undergo a psychological evaluation before they are approved for bariatric surgery. If you need to undergo weight-loss surgery and are wondering if your health insurance policy will cover it or not, then you are in the right place. Fortunately, many insurance companies recognize the serious health threats of obesity and cover weight-loss surgery as long as it meets qualification requirements.
Like all types of bariatric surgery, you may need to meet certain requirements before your insurance provider pre-authorizes gastric sleeve surgery.
