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The cost of bariatric surgery and whether or not it is covered by insurance varies. Our bariatric patient navigator will contact each patient's insurance company to find out if the cost of bariatric surgery is a covered under the patient's benefits and if there are any pre-surgery requirements.
The majority of insurance companies, including Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare and Medicare*, require that patients meet pre-surgery criteria in order to qualify for coverage of the cost of bariatric surgery. They typically require the following prior to surgery:
- Three- to six-month medically supervised diet.
- Dietitian consultation including a reduced-calorie diet.
- Increased physical activity documented in the medical record.
- Behavior modification.
Here is an example of what a physician-supervised diet and exercise program might look like.
*Must be performed at an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence or American College of Surgeons Center of Excellence.
Insurance Plans Accepted
We accept most insurance plans, including:
Aetna®
Anthem
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Cigna
Great Western
Medicaid*
Medicare*
Meritain
UnitedHealthcare®
Within each of those companies, however, there are many policies that don't cover the cost of bariatric surgery. Our bariatric patient navigator will help determine if your particular insurance plan offers coverage.
It is important to note that bariatric surgery typically pays for itself within the first two years after surgery in terms of reduced healthcare costs.
*The Bariatric Center of the Rockies accepts and provides care for those with Medicare and Medicaid coverage -- one of the few in Colorado to do so.
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