Gastric Bypass Surgery: Finding The Right Financing

Gastric bypass surgery can be a life altering procedure but it involves an investment of thousands of dollars. Without some kind of financing or insurance cover access to this kind of bariatric surgery may be out of reach for those who need it.

Insurance Companies

Whether an insurance company will cover the cost of a gastric bypass surgery depends a lot on the kind of policy that a person holds and the amount of coverage that is offered. While some insurance companies do cover bariatric surgery many consider it to be a part of their exclusion policy.

However if the company can be convinced that this surgery is vital to the well being of the patient and that it is being resorted to after other non-surgical interventions have failed, then there may be hope.

Sometimes insurance companies allow patients to buy additional insurance so that they come under a different insurance plan from the one they started out with. The new plan would be able to bring gastric bypass surgery under its purview. The extra amount paid would depend on the starting policy and the insurance company. Buying additional insurance may be an expensive proposition by itself. However the patient would still pay less than the cost of the surgery itself.

A prospective patient can also go ahead with an application, anticipating it to be rejected. But with persistence and repeated appeals medical authorization can be obtained. The patient may have to spend a lot of time on appeals and gather various documents to prove the necessity of the procedure. Quite often the bariatric surgeon or the bariatric centre can be a great support in this matter.

Changing insurance companies may be a way around this problem. This can be done by upgrading insurance at the renewal date or getting onto the plan of a spouse. In extreme cases a change in job could also bring about the desired result.

Financing Institutions

Several financing institutions have schemes which can help in bearing the costs of weight loss surgery. Financing can also be availed of to cover only a part of the procedure, if so desired.

Out of pocket payments

If all else fails there is the option of paying for the surgery without any kind of financing. The financial burden can be eased through instalment payments over a specified period of time. Alternatively home refinancing loans can be helpful.

Choosing an option

Once a bariatric surgeon has evaluated the patient and decided that weight loss surgery would be advisable, it is time to start exploring the various options available to ease the financial burden of the procedure. Information on various insurance schemes and financing alternatives are usually available at the bariatric surgery facility itself. The staff there can advise the patient regarding insurance coverage and available payment plans. The bariatric surgeon too can prove a good guide to these matters.