Do most insurance companies approve weight-loss surgery?
If you are considering Weight Loss Surgery, we recommend that one of the first things you do is to contact your insurance company and speak to a customer service agent. Ask if you have benefits for WLS. If you do not, an available option is self-pay. If you do have coverage, most of the insurance companies are requesting evidence of a medically-supervised weight loss attempt over a six-month period of time. These weight loss attempts do not have to involve medication; they can include exercise, a low-calorie diet and behavior modification. The important aspect is that this is documented in the doctor’s progress notes at regular intervals (every month) for a period of six months. A letter from your Primary Care Physician indicating that you have been on such a plan without documentation in his/her notes usually will not meet the criteria and result in a denial. LAP-BAND®: Question: How does the LAP-BAND® work? Answer: The LAP-BAND® reduces the capacity of your stomach and increases the
