Is Weight Loss Surgery Covered by Insurance?
Most insurance providers cover weight loss surgeries.
As part of our process at Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons in Knoxville, TN, you will meet with our financial counselor to discuss potential insurance benefits and available payment options.
Foothills is in-network with most insurance plans!
Our providers at Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville are in-network with most insurance plans. However, it is the patient’s responsibility to verify insurance coverage. You will need to call your insurance and find out if there is an exclusion to bariatric surgery with your plan. You may be asked to provide CPT and ICD 10 codes. You can find more information on this by visiting this link.
Insurance providers can have different requirements for their coverage for weight loss surgery. The criteria can be mandated by your employer, medical policy, or specific plan.
Some of the most common requirements for coverage by many insurance companies include:
- over 18 years of age (some companies cover bariatric surgery for patients younger than 18)
- BMI of over 40 or over 35 with an existing comorbidity such as hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes
documented weight loss efforts over time - completion of the weight loss program mandated by the insurance company
- psychological counseling/testing
- no evidence of substance abuse
- smoking cessation prior to surgery
- diagnosis of morbid obesity
We know that it can be overwhelming to figure these out on your own. Our caring team is here to help you as much as we can. Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions, or share any concerns you may have.
If you need to find out if your BMI meets the criteria for weight loss surgery, check out our Self-Assessment page where you can calculate your BMI.
Foothills has cash options available
If you don’t have insurance, we have cash options available.
For financing bariatric surgery, BHG Patient Lending Is an affordable option. Visit https://bhgpatientlending.com/patients for more details.
Consider a pre-pay option
Things can happen after surgery and those unexpected costs can add up quickly.
This is why Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons in Knoxville, TN participates in a program called BLIS.
BLIS is an innovative program that allows bariatric pre-pay patients to be covered in case of complications that could occur within a set timeframe after surgery.
With Blis, you don’t have to worry about the costs associated with the care for that complication.
If you are ready to get started on your weight loss journey, take the first step by watching our FREE online informational series. Register through this link or by calling our office at (865) 984-3413.
Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons is part of Premier Surgical Bariatrics in Knoxville, Tennessee. Foothills is affiliated with the Fort Sanders Regional Center for Bariatric Surgery, part of Covenant Health Bariatric Services.