Paying for Weight-Loss Surgery
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A discussion of your insurance
options for gastric bypass surgery
A growing number of states have passed
legislation that requires insurance companies to provide benefits for
gastric bypass surgery for patients that meet the National Institutes of
Health surgical criteria.
And while insurance coverage for
weight-loss surgery is widespread, it can involve a lengthy and
complicated approval process. We are well-acquainted with insurance
processes and can help patients navigate through the process in
preparation for surgery.
There are some key things that you should
do to obtain insurance coverage for weight-loss surgery:
¢ Read and understand the “certificate of
coverage” that your insurance company is required by law to give you.
If you do not have one, contact your company’s benefits administrator
or contact your insurance company directly.
¢ You may be required to start with your
primary care physician. In some cases, he or she is the only one you
can ask for a referral to a qualified bariatric surgeon. Even if you
are not required to get a referral, it is a good idea to have the
support of your primary care physician.
¢ Before visiting the bariatric surgeon,
organize your medical records, including your history of dieting
efforts. They will be valuable documents to have at every stage of the
approval process.
¢ Document every visit you make to a health
care professional for obesity-related issues or supervised weight loss
programs. Document other weight loss attempts made through diet
centers and fitness club memberships. Keep good records and save
receipts.
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