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Almost all insurance companies in the U.S. (see full list below) have policies that cover bariatric surgery. Whether you have insurance that covers bariatric surgery depends on what type of policy you have:
- An Individual/Family or Small Group Policy (through an employer with under 50 employees) covers weight loss surgery if you live in one of the 23 states that mandate it
- A Large Group Policy (through an employer with 50+ employees) covers bariatric surgery if your employer has chosen to include it in your plan
- Medicare covers weight loss surgery
- Medicaid covers weight loss surgery (but not all surgeons accept Medicaid)
If your insurance policy covers weight loss surgery, insurance will only pay for it if:
- You have a qualifying body mass index (BMI) of 35+ with obesity-related health problems or a BMI of 40+ (with no accompanying health problems necessary)
- You participate in a medically supervised diet program before having the procedure (length of program depends on your insurance company – it ranges from “not required” to 9 months)
Scroll down for the full bariatric surgery insurance coverage list by U.S. Insurance company.
For more information about plan types and general bariatric surgery insurance qualification requirements, see our Bariatric Surgery Insurance page.