Introduction
Some patients are required to lose 10 percent of their weight before weight-loss surgery is performed. For other patients, losing just 15 to 20 pounds right before surgery is enough to reduce the risk of complications. It’s important to follow your surgeon’s pre-surgery diet and nutrition guidelines.
Can weight loss be covered by insurance?
What kind of weight loss treatments do insurers cover? The Affordable Care Act requires that most health insurers cover obesity screening and counseling as preventive care for adults and children. Diet counseling is also available for adults at higher risk for chronic disease.
Does bariatric surgery under insurance?
Fortunately, as per the guidelines put forth by IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) in 2019, Bariatric Surgery is included in health insurance. Thus, it is usually mentioned as an inclusion under most health insurance policies.
What can disqualify you from bariatric surgery?
These are as follows:
Drug and/or alcohol addiction.
Age under 16 or over 75.
History of heart disease or severe lung problems. .
Chronic pancreatitis (or have a history of this).
Cirrhosis of the liver.
Autoimmune disease such as systemic lupus erthyematosus.
Blood disorder which increases your risk of heavy bleeding.
.
Why would you be denied bariatric surgery?
But why might a patient not qualify for bariatric surgery? BMI: First and most obviously, they simply may not have a BMI that is high enough. A BMI of 35 or more with one or more obesity related conditions or BMI of 40 or greater regardless of obesity related conditions is required to have surgery.
What kind of doctor do I need for weight loss?
bariatricians
These healthcare providers are called bariatric healthcare providers or bariatricians. Some of these healthcare providers may also be bariatric surgeons. Bariatric surgeons are trained to do surgery that aids in weight loss.
Why is obesity not covered by insurance?
No. Obesity is considered a pre-existing condition under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). So, as with all pre-existing conditions, insurance companies cannot make people with high BMIs pay more in premiums.
What are the medical options for weight loss?
Six weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use:
Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)
How much do you have to weigh to be a candidate for bariatric surgery?
Have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, or have a BMI between 30 and 35 and an obesity-related condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea. Weigh less than 450 pounds, the maximum weight that hospital radiology equipment can accommodate.
Who is a good candidate for bariatric surgery?
Body weight greater than 100 pounds or 45 kg above ideal weight. Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 or BMI greater than 35 with medical complications related to obesity, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and gallbladder disease.
Conclusion
“When multiple attempts at weight loss have failed, weight-loss surgery becomes worth it because its benefits far outweigh the chance of complications,” says Dr. Sherman. Like all surgical procedures, weight-loss surgery carries some risk. But that risk is low, Dr.
