Insurance

We will assist you in meeting insurance company requirements, but first, call your insurance company to find out if bariatric surgery is a covered benefit. If yes, we will next provide them with documentation that your surgery is medically necessary due to health issues related to obesity. You may also be asked to provide evidence of your attempts at non-surgical weight loss.

Here are some steps to obtaining insurance coverage:

• Read the “certificate of coverage” that your insurance company is required to give you.
• You might be required to obtain a referral from your primary care physician.
• Bring your organized medical records, including your history of dieting attempts, to the first visit with your bariatric surgeon
• Document all visits to a health care professional for obesity related issues, and visits you make to supervised weight loss programs, diet centers and fitness clubs. Keep good records, including receipts.
• If your surgeon recommends weight loss surgery, we will contact your insurance company for pre-authorization.

If you have an insurance policy that specifically says it excludes payment for bariatric surgery, there are other options. Many patients choose to pay for the operation themselves. We can help you explore payment options.