Do insurance companies cover surgery for obesity?
Most insurance companies will cover this surgery. Some will fight coverage, but we have had great success in getting insurers to realize that this is necessary. We give the insurance providers the information they need to understand why the surgery is necessary and what it involves. These operations are not being done for cosmetic purposes; they are being done to improve overall health and take the morbidity out of morbid obesity. Since obesity surgery can actually lessen the risk of death, it is medically necessary. After significant weight loss there is often a lot of excess skin. Surgery to remove that skin will often not be covered by insurance. If, however, a hernia should have occurred after surgery and this requires additional surgery, removal of this skin can be done simultaneously and may be partially covered.
A. Most insurance companies will cover this surgery. Some will fight coverage, but we have had great success in getting insurers to realize that this is necessary. We give the insurance providers the information they need to understand why the surgery is necessary and what it involves. These operations are not being done for cosmetic purposes; they are being done to improve overall health and take the morbidity out of morbid obesity. Since obesity surgery can actually reverse the risk of death, it is medically necessary. After significant weight loss there is often a lot of excess skin. Surgery to remove that skin will often not be covered by insurance. If, however, a hernia should have occurred after surgery and this requires additional surgery, removal of this skin can be done simultaneously and may be partially covered.
