Is weight loss surgery cost keeping you
from having the procedure?

Your weight loss surgery cost can be handled many different ways. Know all your options for the surgery that can turn your life around.

Because surgery for weight loss may resolve or prevent your risk to chronic disease, but it is not cheap.

The surgery cost, at the very least, runs around $25,000. This should cover the fees for: the hospital, the surgeon, the anesthesia, the lab and x-rays, and any other miscellaneous fees.

Because the weight loss surgery cost can run high, many insurance companies (if you’re persistent) and financial lenders offer various plans to assist in helping make the operation possible.

But convincing an insurance company to help you with the weight loss surgery cost is not an easy task. Getting them to understand this is medically necessary for you is likely to be your biggest hurdle.

You need to understand the insurance approval process and play an active role in pursuing coverage for the cost of your surgery.

Because even though health insurance companies are beginning to warm up to the idea that obesity surgery can actually save them money in the long run by preventing future medical problems…

Far to many medical insurance providers still say “no dice” to contributing a dime to the weight loss surgery cost. They try and make it as difficult as possible, insisting on a letter outlining your health history and the medical necessity for the procedure before they will even think about financing the surgery.

But even with a carefully written letter, many insurance companies still refuse to pay for the surgery. These paper pushers can be a real pain in the you know what.

If this happens, you should not give up hope (that’s what they want), because most insurance providers give you a chance to appeal a denial.

Just remember that most insurance companies require you to appeal within 30-60 days after receiving a denial of coverage. So get right on it if you want them to help with your weight loss surgery cost.

Be very detailed. Your surgery insurance appeal letter should include all information disputing the insurance provider’s reason for denial.

You may want an attorney to help prove the medical necessity of the procedure. Having the help of an attorney insures your appeal letter presents a strong clear argument on your behalf. It also sends the message you’re determined.

If you have gone through your insurance company’s approval, authorization, and appeals process and are still unable to get them to budge, you still have options.

Talk to your surgeon, they understand the high cost of weight loss surgery and are often willing to assist patients by providing information on available financing programs and payment plans.

You’ll find a number of financial institutions offer financing specifically for healthcare expenses such as co-payments, deductibles, and procedures not covered by insurance. Some even offer no-interest, same-as-cash plans as well as extended payment plans. Check’em out.

Then there’re the surgery centers who have contracts with finance companies. This allows them to offer financial assistance to anybody interested in this type of surgery, whether they have insurance or not.

Finally, if you own your home, you can always take out a home equity loan to finance the surgery. It’s a last resort, but on the positive side, it may be tax deductible since it is considered a major medical expense. Check with your account to make sure.

Weight loss surgery is a high cost procedure, but if you can figure out a way to swing it, the life-changing results are priceless.

Smiles…Gigi

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