If you are researching bariatric surgery, you are no doubt already envisioning your life after the procedure. From greater energy to an enhanced body image after weight loss, there is a lot to look forward to. But before you can enjoy the advantages of surgery, you have to figure out how to afford your bariatric procedure of choice.
Weight loss surgery costs vary between types of procedures, providers, and geographic locations. However, in every case, procedures cost more than pocket change. This leads to many wondering if bariatric surgery is covered by insurance.
Most Policies Offer Coverage for Bariatric Procedures
To find out if your insurance provider will cover all or part of the gastric bypass surgery cost, you need to contact them and ask directly. Find your insurance card and locate the number on the back, then call their customer service.
Once you are able to speak with a representative, give them one of the following codes:
• E66.01 if you have morbid obesity, a BMI over 40.
• E66.0 if you have obesity, BMI unspecified.
With these codes, they should be able to tell you if your obesity is a covered benefit. If it is, ask them if the specific procedure or procedures you are considering are covered.
Using Your Insurance for Bariatric Surgeries
If you find out that you do have coverage for the procedures you are interested in, this doesn’t mean they will cover the entire sleeve gastrectomy cost. In fact, they can still completely deny coverage if you don’t meet specific requirements.
Here are the questions to ask your insurance company before you move forward with weight loss surgery.
• What requirements must I meet to qualify for coverage?
• What is the deductible that I will need to pay?
• How much of the procedure is covered?
• Is there a copay or coinsurance I need to pay?
Once you have the answers to these questions, you will know what you need to prove to be eligible for coverage and how much you will need to pay to get your procedure.
Affording Bariatric Surgery
The unfortunate truth is that even with insurance paying for part of the cost of lap band surgery or other procedures, the out-of-pocket expenses are often more than patients can afford. In some cases, after insurance coverage, patients are still left paying $10,000 for their procedure.
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Does this mean that unless you have that much money to burn, you are out of luck? Not at all.
The gastric sleeve cost in Mexico is typically less than half the cost of the same procedure performed in the U.S. While sleeve gastrectomy averages $14,900 in the United States—and this price does not include all associated medical costs—there are providers in Mexico offering all-inclusive packages for under $5,000. Mexico lap band surgery costs are similarly low.
And cutting costs does not mean sacrificing quality. Mexican surgeons are highly trained and often study abroad as well. Many even earn certifications in the United States. While you should do your research as you would with any provider, weight loss surgery in Tijuana, Mexico could be the key to making your dreams a reality.
