A Lap-band procedure could cost you $10,000 to $29,000, according to the Lap-band guide. If you don’t have this kind of cash lying around, you are probably wondering if your health insurance will cover it. There is no set answer for this because every insurance company and policy is different. Not only that, not all surgeons accept all insurance companies.
The best thing to do in this situation is to call your insurance company. Beware that you may be rejected the first time you ask. They don’t hand out this type of coverage easily. It will take some perseverance and time to get them to consider you as a candidate for coverage for the LAP-BAND, if they cover it at all.
Improve Your Chances for Coverage
If you insurance does cover the LAP-BAND and your surgeon accepts your insurance, there will be some hoops you will have to go through.
- You will have to request that your doctor write you a referral letter. The referral letter has to include information about your medical need for the surgery. There must be documentation of your weight history, what other interventions were taken and proven unsuccessful and proof that you fall within the guidelines of the National Institute of Health (NIH) for weight loss surgery.
- To help your case, include any information you have of your efforts in losing weight such as joining weight loss programs or a gym.
- If you’ve visited with a nutritionist, you may want to see if you can acquire documentation from this type of professional as well.
- Be sure to keep copies of all your records between you, your doctors, and the insurance company.
- Most of all, be persistent and check up on progress. Find a contact person within the insurance company and make sure documentation is received and what is the progress of your claim. It will ensure that no one drops the ball and you can get your surgery as soon as possible.
(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/invictus/2887729597/)
Thu, Aug 13, 2009
Health Insurance