| Most insurance companies in the USA pay | | | | depression & eating disorders. |
| for bariatric surgeries (weight loss or | | | | According to United States government |
| obesity surgery). But the process to | | | | research report published in New York |
| obtain approval is a lengthy one & not | | | | Times in 2004, obesity is near to |
| all qualify due to it. The patient needs | | | | overtaking smoking as the No. 1 cause of |
| to establish a medical necessity. | | | | death in the United States(tobacco |
| Following are the points they consider: | | | | related deaths are still number 1 with |
| - Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or | | | | 18.1 percent). According to a November |
| higher and morbidly obesity. BMI is a | | | | 2007 report by National Center for |
| number calculated from a person's weight | | | | Health Statistics obesity rate in the |
| and height and is used as an indicator | | | | United States was 34 percent (U.S. |
| of body fatness to categorize obesity. | | | | adults aged 20 and over). Obesity by |
| - Prove obesity as an issue for more | | | | them is defined as a body mass index |
| than five years. | | | | (BMI) of 30 or greater. |
| - Have exhausted all serious efforts | | | | The stringent requirements that a |
| to reduce weight by non-surgical methods | | | | patient has to meet for bariatric health |
| (pills, exercise, dieting, creams & | | | | insurance benefits, discourages many |
| location, special clothing etc). | | | | from being able to avail the weight loss |
| - You have co-morbidities (Medical | | | | surgery benefits of their health |
| illnesses/diseases that are either | | | | insurance plan(even if their insurance |
| caused by or contributed to by morbid | | | | policy covers it). |
| obesity. For example, diabetes, high | | | | A viable alternative that is being |
| blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep | | | | explored by many is for affordable |
| apnea, and arthritis) | | | | bariatric surgeries at an overseas |
| Along, with this the patient also needs | | | | location. These include common bariatric |
| to provide the insurance company data | | | | surgery like lap band, gastric bypass & |
| about their: | | | | gastric sleeve surgery. Popular |
| - Medical condition related to liver, | | | | destinations for US patients seeking |
| kidney,heart, diabetes, or any | | | | cost effective bariatric surgery is |
| gastrointestinal disease | | | | Mexico & Costa Rica. Many surgeons at |
| - Thyroid Test Results | | | | these overseas location have more |
| - Any history of alcohol or substance | | | | experince than their US counterparts. |
| abuse | | | | Many times the total cost of surgery and |
| It makes business sense for health | | | | travel expenses combined, is still less |
| insurance companies to pay for weight | | | | than the cost the patient would pay if |
| loss surgery. There is a number of | | | | the insurance paid its part of the |
| health risk associated with obesity that | | | | medical insurance coverage. |
| would cost the insurance companies more | | | | For patients that do not have their |
| money if the bariatric surgery is not | | | | insurance covering bariatric surgery in |
| performed upfront. Health risks | | | | the USA, Medical Tourism Corporation |
| associated with obesity are heart | | | | helps with high quality bariatric |
| disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, | | | | surgery hospital & centers overseas. A |
| type 2 diabetes, gout, lower back pain, | | | | page that has links to articles on |
| pregnancy complications, bladder control | | | | weight loss (bariatric) surgery can also |
| problems and cancer to name a few. | | | | accessed for more information and |
| Additions to this are psychological | | | | knowledge. |
| disorders like low self esteem, | | | | |