Insurance Coverage and Requirements

For many people, weight loss surgery is affordable because it is included in their health insurance coverage. For other people, it is a medical treatment they pay for themselves. Whether your insurance company will cover the cost of bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) or you are paying for it yourself, you will need to prepare detailed written documentation to support the medical necessity of your surgery.

Obtaining insurance approval:

• Consult your insurance company regarding your benefits.
• Determine if a medically supervised weight-loss diet program is required.
• Consult with your primary care medical doctor and ask for a letter of medical necessity.
• Obtain your diet history and record of your weights from your doctor or other supervised weight-loss program. Most insurance companies are looking for a 5-year history of morbid obesity.

Our program coordinator and your surgeon’s office staff will help you understand your insurance coverage and approval process.