Bariatric surgery is often covered by insurance provided you meet certain eligibility criteria. Insurance companies are frequently changing their coverage criteria and have multiple medical plans, so please call you insurance company’s member services number and confirm current requirements and eligibility for bariatric surgery coverage.
Our specialized skilled staff will obtain the approval from the insurance company. Do not attempt to get authorization for surgery yourself or ask you Primary Care Physician to do that. Here are some helpful hints to assist with the authorization process:
- Read and understand your insurance provider’s “policy of coverage.”
- Get a referral and copy of medical records from your primary care physician.
- Keep accurate, detailed records of visits to health care providers. Also, save receipts for any exercise equipment, fitness programs, diet centers, weight loss drugs and anything else that can assist in the authorization process.
The insurance company might ask for the following information and documentation (Be prepared to assist us with providing these upon request):
- Current weight, height and BMI.
- Surgery recommended along with any post-operative follow-up care, including nutritional and psychological support.
- A detailed medical history including co-morbidities (i.e., the presence of one or more diseases in addition to obesity)
- Six (6) months of medical records including your evaluation, treatments performed to date, and specific types of lab work done
- Some insurance providers might require three to three to Six (3-6) months of a documented dieting and exercise routine (must include dates and results).
- A psychological/psychiatric evaluation.
If we have submitted an authorization for surgery requests and it was denied, we have the right to appeal the decision on your behalf. Being denied coverage for surgery happens to some patients and this initial set back does not mean that you’ve reached the end of the road. Some insurance providers may initially deny bariatric surgery claims automatically the first time they’re submitted, and can be more receptive to follow-up appeal letters and peer-to-peer reviews with medical directors.
If you have questions about the insurance process, please don’t hesitate to contact our office. Let our experienced bariatric team help you with the authorization process.
AETNA: Standard NIH weight criteria, 5 years documentation of a history by a doctor, supervised 6-month (or two 3-month periods) diet within 2 past years, evaluation by dietitian & psychologist.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield: Standard NIH weight criteria, supervised 6-month (or two 3-month periods) diet within 2 past years, evaluation by dietitian & psychologist.
Blue Cross Federal: Standard NIH weight criteria, 3-6 months supervised diet, evaluation by dietitian & psychologist.
CIGNA: Standard NIH weight criteria, supervised 6-month diet within 2 past years, evaluation by dietitian & psychologist.
United/MAMSI/MDIPA/Optimum Choice: Standard NIH weight criteria, 5-year weight history, evaluation by dietitian & psychologist. Some plans may require 6 months supervised diet.
United/MAMSI/MDIPA/Optimum Choice Federal: Standard NIH weight criteria, supervised 6-month (or two 3-month periods) diet within past 2 years, evaluation by dietitian and psychologist.
Medicare/Medicaid: Standard NIH weight criteria, supervised 6-month diet, evaluation by dietitian and psychologist, participation in preparation/conditioning program with surgeon for 3 months. Eligible co-morbidities include hypertension untreatable with 2 or more medications, type II diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, severe arthritis requiring joint replacement, or fatty liver. Weight loss of 10 percent or more before surgery makes patient ineligible for surgery, and revision procedures are not covered unless there is a complication from the initial surgery.
Our preference is for you to use your insurance to avoid the significant (up to 90% of total charges) hospital and other related costs of bariatric surgery. If you do not have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery, please contact our office and office manager or surgical scheduler will advise you on total cost and available payment plan allowed by the Hospital.
If an associated general surgery procedure like gall bladder removal, hiatal hernia repair is performed along with bariatric procedure, part of the expenses might be covered by your insurance, thus reducing the total cost.
