How do I find an insurance plan that covers bariatric surgery? In January, I will do more in terms of my parents, I'm too old. I find it impossible to find a plan and know what procedures it covers. What should I do?
In February I'll be eligible for health insurance through my work, but is there a way I can find the difference between individual Healthplan and whether it covers bariatric surgery?
Your best bet is to get coverage through a group of employers.
Bariatric surgery is almost always going to be excluded from an individual, private plan purchased. And, as others have said, you can not get a health plan purchased individually if your BMI and comorbidities are important enough to require surgery bariatric. (Co-morbid conditions = you've done your weight problems - diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
Once you are eligible for coverage under your employer, you can know whether or not bariatric surgery is covered. (If your employer offers one more option plan, you should be able to request details of each policy to use when deciding between plans.)
Whether or not bariatric surgery is covered with a blanket decision not by the insurance company for all groups. It depends on whether your employer group has chosen to include in their coverage - many employers exclude as an attempt to save on premiums. XYZ insurance company may cover bariatric surgery for Employer # 1 (who chose to include it), but exclude bariatric surgery for Employer # 2 (who chose to exclude reduce their premiums). You can not use the name of the XYZ insurance company to determine whether they cover bariatric surgery - you need to know what the specific policy you are registered under. Warranties can vary widely, even within the same insurance company.
BTW - you should be aware that there are a large number of documents required for approval of coverage for bariatric surgery. If you are sure you will begin to pursue this option come February, you should start collecting some documents now to accelerate the approval process for you.
Some standard features you often asked by the insurer, five years of documented history of weight, documented non-surgical attempts at weight loss, lack of active substance abuse for at least 12 months before, etc.
I do not know where you are located, but most legitimate bariatric centers have insurance options to help you. contact them or visit their website to see what they offer.
Bariatric surgery is a hot topic in the industy and the probability of being covered on a plan indivudual would be extremely rare. This surgery is up there with Viagra contract exclusions most popular in health care.
Your success rate will increase significantly in the HMO arena and possibility of a larger group employer medical plan. Request a design plan for your human resources department of employers, it must indicate whether it is covered.
Frankly, I would dismiss the idea of finding cover indivudual covering what you would notice any significant extent, even if it was an advantage in coverage. You really should explore the medical group that underwriting conditions are nominal.
Keep in mind, even if the surgery is covered insurers require you to jump through enormous obstacles. Be sure you have all your permits in place before taking the plunge.
As said dimples, you will not be able to get a private policy - if you need weight loss surgery, no privacy policy will write to you because of your BMI.
You do that are a paris. wait for health insurance from your employer 2. Save your money to do it yourself, or 3. knock your socks off to try to do it yourself without the surgery.
Posted on April 1, 2010.