Part 5 - How Much Does Weight Loss Surgery Cost?If you are considering weight loss surgery, you may have already weighed the risks and benefits to your body. However, you may not have considered the risks to your wallet. While weight loss surgery may seem like an easy decision for you, have you considered the costs? When considering weight loss surgery, you need to calculate the costs of doctor’s office visits, the hospital stay, anesthesiology costs, overhead costs, and post-operative visits. In addition, you will have to change your eating habits, which may be an increased cost to your grocery bill. You should also find out if all of the doctor’s visits will be covered as you will have to undergo treatment for the rest of your life. On average, the total cost for weight loss surgery can be anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000. Patients with Medicare are fortunate as weight loss surgery is usually covered under the policy for “co-morbid illnesses,” such as heart disease, sleep apnea, or diabetes. Many large insurance providers will also cover the surgery. Some insurance companies are opting to allow the employer to decide if they will pay for their employee to undergo this weight loss treatment or not. However, if you have coverage with a private insurance company, you may not be as lucky. While you can attempt to file a claim with your insurance provider, most insurance companies have not yet joined the bandwagon to pay for this medical procedure. In fact, you may find that you are denied by your insurance provider unless you meet certain guidelines outlined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many insurance companies have also added the stipulation that you must show proof that you have been on a medically-supervised diet for six to 12 months before they will even consider paying for the surgery. Be sure to check the language on your insurance policy during open enrollment so you can choose an insurance provider that will meet your needs. The best way to receive insurance coverage for this procedure is to have a referral from your primary care doctor for a bariatric surgeon. Also, keep excellent records of your medical history and any weight loss methods you have tried. You will also want to obtain a letter from your bariatric surgeon requesting the insurance company to approve the surgery in advance. If you have been seeing your doctor for any obesity-related health problems, be sure to include documentation of these visits with your medical records. An insurance company is more likely to pay for the surgery if they believe it will help alleviate “co-morbid illnesses,” such as sleep apnea, heart disease, or diabetes. Remember that it usually takes around 30 days for an insurance company to process your claim. You may have heard of less expensive weight loss procedures outside of the United States. While this may be a more affordable option for you, you need to consider all of the costs. You will need to pay for airfare and a place to stay in a foreign country. In addition, you do not have the same resources available to research the medical background for many of the doctors who would be working with you as you would in the United States. If you want to seriously consider having the procedure done in another country, be sure to do extensive research to make sure you are not wasting your time and money. Remember that paying for weight loss surgery is making an investment in your weight loss process, but you need to be prepared for the risks and expenses that the procedure may cost.
I'll see you soon.. Julian |
||||||||