Updated July 19, 2006

Bariatric Surgery
An Option for Long-Term Weight Loss

by Jacqueline Craig, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

The company may take 30 days or longer to respond to your inquiry. Although insurance companies are covering the cost of obesity surgery more now than in years past, denial of services is still common. If your request is denied, typically there is an appeals process that lets you address reasons for denial. The process may be lengthy and require the services of an insurance attorney.

State legislators are taking notice of the benefits of obesity surgery, and a few states now require insurance plans to provide the same benefits for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity as they do for any other medically necessary surgical procedure. Currently, legislation exists in Indiana, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland. Legislation is pending in Ohio, Oregon, and South Carolina. Other states may well follow suit.

Making the choice
Bariatric surgery offers hope to people whose weight has them at risk for many health problems, but it is not without risks. Make an informed decision by talking with your health-care team and with people who have had the surgery before deciding whether it’s right for you.

Jacqueline Craig has worked in diabetes education for the past 13 years. Currently, she is a Registered Dietitian at an ADA-Recognized Diabetes Education Program, Group Health Associates, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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