Disadvantages of Weight Loss Insurance Coverage

Morbid obesity is more than just a cosmetic issue. Many individuals who suffer from obesity also suffer associated health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and heart disease. Some health insurance companies cover the cost of weight loss surgery that can alleviate many of the health problems associated with obesity. Weight loss insurance coverage can be lifesaving for some patients, but it can also have disadvantages.

Approval Challenges

• Weight loss surgery involves a significant medical expense which most individuals could not afford without the assistance of insurance coverage. According to YourBariatricSurgeryGuide.com, the average cost of bariatric, or weight loss, surgery is about $25,000 per patient. The costs include preoperative lab and X-ray fees as well as the cost of anesthesia, surgeon's fees and the cost of the hospital and aftercare facility. Due to the significant expense involved, many insurance companies are hesitant to approve patients for weight loss surgery even in cases where it could benefit the patient. Doctors and patients often spend months struggling to get approval while a patient's health continues to decline from the effects of obesity.

Increased Surgeries

• Greater access creates a risk that some doctors and patients may be more quick to pursue surgery without proper consideration for the surgical risks. Although approval can be a challenge at times, weight loss insurance has made surgery more readily available overall. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery indicates that approximately 16,200 weight loss procedures were performed during 1994, but 10 years later approximately 140,640 surgeries were prescribed. As some patients experience success with weight loss surgery, more and more obese patients turn to surgery as a possible cure despite the dangers. According to the Mayo Clinic, bariatric surgical risks include infection, blood clots, reactions to anesthesia and even death.

Increased Health Effects

• An increase in the adverse health effects resulting from weight loss surgery can increase a patient's health costs over the long term. As insurance coverage for weight loss provides more and more patients with the means to pursue surgical intervention, there may be an increase in the number of health problems associated with the weight loss surgery. UCSF Medical Center reports that some surgical weight loss procedures can result in reduced absorption of key vitamins and minerals in the patient's diet. Patients deficient in vitamin B12 or iron could become anemic, and some patients develop metabolic bone disease, which can result in bone pain and height loss, problems with posture and the spine as well as osteoporosis and bone fractures.