By Not all of Medicaid pays for weight loss surgery. Medicaid rules vary from state to state. The majority of states do not allow the coverage of weight loss surgery on Medicaid. There are states which do cover weight loss surgery on Medicaid, but only under certain circumstances. Medicaid often requires patients to meet certain BMI requirements, which is an indicator of being overweight. Other states will accept patients who are morbidly obese. A patient who is morbidly obese is someone who has a BMI of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or more, along with other medical conditions. There are also some states that will pay for gastric bypass surgery, but not for gastric sleeve surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that involves removing part of the stomach. There are some states that will pay for the surgery if the patient also has Type II Diabetes or is at risk of heart disease or stroke. Generally, weight loss surgery is not covered by Medicaid. If you are interested in seeing whether the surgery is covered by your state, contact your local Medicaid office..
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Does Medicaid Pay For Weight Loss Surgery? – Related Questions
How long does it take Medicaid to approve weight loss surgery?
This is not the exact answer but the bottom line is that it is possible to get weight loss surgery on Medicaid. It would be a blessing to get the approval since the cost of the procedure is not covered. Once you get approval, you can get the operation anywhere you want..
Does Medicaid cover weight loss programs?
Well, many studies have found that Medicaid (and other public health care programs such as Medicare and CHIP) covers weight loss programs. You can go here to read more about it..
What medical conditions qualify for weight loss surgery?
A lot of obese people are looking for weight loss surgery to lose weight, but the question is, what medical conditions qualify for weight loss surgery? Weight loss surgery is a popular option for morbidly obese people. The following are some of the medical conditions that qualify you for weight loss surgery:.
Does Medicaid cover sleeve surgery?
Medicaid covers surgery to treat weight loss problems if it is medically necessary, if you keep the surgery to the minimum, and if it is judged to be cost-effective..
How much weight do you have to lose before gastric sleeve?
It is very difficult to say how much weight you need to lose before undergoing gastric sleeve surgery. Many factors like your age, height, weight, lifestyle, medical history, previous medical history, genetic predisposition etc. need to be taken into account before deciding upon the same. The required weight loss really depends on the criteria required for surgery. It is usually suggested that you need to be at least 25-30 pounds overweight to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery..
How Can Medicaid help me lose weight?
Medicaid helps with weight loss by covering the costs of obesity treatments offered by physicians and facilities. For instance, bariatric surgery is covered by Medicaid for individuals with a BMI of 40 or greater who also have at least one medical comorbidity such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Medicaid pays for bariatric surgery and in fact covers this surgery for more people than Medicare. Medicaid also covers other forms of weight loss surgery in many states and in some states funds in-patient care in facilities in which in-patient programs for weight loss and in-patient treatment can be covered..
How much does weight loss surgery cost?
Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is a serious procedure that can save lives. It is meant for people who are significantly overweight, with a BMI of 40 or more, or people with a BMI of 35 or higher with co-existing conditions. With weight loss surgery, you can control your weight once and for all. It is not a miracle or a quick fix. You still have to work hard to make lifestyle changes, but the tools are provided for you..
How do I get approved for weight loss surgery?
After the BMI is evaluated from the past year, the patient is then evaluated by several doctors after a thorough physical exam. The reason for this is because insurance companies don’t just want to approve surgery for anyone. In fact, there are several factors that you have absolutely no control over. These factors include:.
How long does it take to get approval for weight loss surgery?
In the United States, the time taken to get approval for weight loss surgery largely depends on the insurance company. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The insurance companies have a panel of surgeons who have been cleared to perform weight loss surgery. If you have a panel surgeon, there is a good chance of quicker approval. If you have a non-panel surgeon, it may take a little longer. It is best to make sure you are working with a board-certified surgeon with experience in the field. This will increase the likelihood of approval. The surgeon can help provide more details about what your insurance company requires of you..
