Insurance and bariatric surgery: How to navigate your benefits – MultiCare Vitals
Checking Your Own Insurance Benefits
When considering bariatric surgery as an option, it’s essential to understand how it will be covered by your insurance. While your surgeon’s office can verify your benefits, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance company directly to confirm coverage and requirements. Reviewing the coverage documents provided by your employer or insurance company can also provide insight.
You’ll want to check if bariatric surgery is covered under your plan. In some cases, it may be listed as an exclusion under terms like “obesity” or “weight-loss surgery.” While bariatric surgery is often covered if deemed medically necessary, it must also be considered a covered benefit.
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To understand what’s required by your plan, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the specific criteria and requirements for medical necessity according to your insurance company. This information can typically be found in your insurer’s medical policy, but your employer may have additional criteria outlined in a document called a “Summary Plan Document/Description.” It’s important to know if any additional criteria apply.
Understanding Medical Necessity and Coverage Exclusions
Meeting the widely accepted criteria for medical necessity does not guarantee coverage for bariatric surgery. If weight loss surgery is specifically listed as an exclusion in your insurance plan, regardless of your body mass index or comorbid conditions, coverage will not be considered. In this case, the denial does not question the medical necessity of the surgery itself, but rather indicates that the insurance does not provide coverage for it. Unfortunately, there is typically no appeal process for this type of denial.
Considering Cash Payment Options
If your insurance does not cover bariatric surgery, there are alternatives available. Depending on your plan’s language, consultations, nutritional counseling, pre- and post-operative tests, laboratory tests, and follow-up visits may be covered, just not the surgery itself. Consulting your insurance benefits will allow you to outline potential costs during your consultation.
Meeting Insurance Criteria
Once you have confirmed your benefits, you will consult with a surgeon to assess your suitability for bariatric surgery. Factors such as height, weight, body mass index, comorbid conditions, and previous attempts at non-surgical weight management will be evaluated. If your plan requires a medically supervised weight loss program, you will start seeing a dietitian on a monthly basis for the specified duration.
A psychological clearance is typically a common insurance criterion. You will need to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional who will evaluate your psychological and emotional well-being to determine if you are a candidate. Psychological disorders, eating disorders, inability to give informed consent, or failure to comply with pre- and post-surgical recommendations may be factors that disqualify you.
Understanding the Insurance Authorization Process
Once all pre-surgical and insurance requirements have been met, the authorization process can begin. Your relevant medical records will be collected and sent to your insurance company’s clinical review department. It usually takes about two to four weeks to receive a determination. Once a decision is made, you will be notified of the approval or denial. If approved, the surgery can be scheduled.
In the event of a denial, a review of the decision will determine the appropriate follow-up action according to your insurance guidelines. Denials can occur due to various reasons, such as lack of documentation or disagreements regarding vague or interpretable criteria.
Exploring the Appeals Process
Reviewing denials carefully is crucial since appeal deadlines may be fast approaching. The first step in the appeals process often involves a peer-to-peer discussion between your surgeon and the insurance company’s medical director to review the denial. This conversation provides an opportunity to gain specific feedback and better understand what additional information or actions are required to qualify. While the denial may or may not be reversed during this discussion, it serves as a valuable tool for moving forward with the appeal.
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If an appeal is necessary, collecting any missed documentation and scheduling additional tests or office visits promptly is essential to ensure completion before the appeal period expires. The appeals process may have multiple levels, with the final level often involving the submission of records to an independent External Review Organization for unbiased consideration.
Ensuring Approval
To increase the likelihood of approval by your insurance company, it’s essential to complete a health history questionnaire truthfully and thoroughly before your consultation. Any documentation, medical chart notes, personal records, or receipts of past weight loss attempts (diet, exercise, or medical supervision) should be brought along for review and scanning into your clinic’s records.
If you have undergone a previous weight loss procedure, obtaining copies of your operative report and pre- and post-operative visits can demonstrate your commitment to follow through with previous provider recommendations.
The most crucial aspect for ensuring approval is complying fully with the requirements outlined in the medical policy or applicable summary plan document. If a medically supervised diet is required, it should be done consecutively and spaced approximately 30 days apart. Failure to keep scheduled appointments within consecutive calendar months may result in denial, potentially leading to delays or having to restart the prescribed schedule.
At the Multi-Care Center for Weight Loss & Wellness, we provide comprehensive support before, during, and after the weight loss process.
Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?
If you are considering weight loss surgery, it’s important to explore your options and understand the coverage provided by your insurance. By navigating the insurance process and meeting the necessary criteria, you can work towards achieving your weight loss goals with confidence.
Source: https://amajon.asia
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