Deciding if having bariatric surgery is the right path for you is not a choice to take lightly. Bariatric surgery is not a quick fix, but a lifelong commitment to changing your life. It is our goal for you to feel well informed and prepared before making your choice. Read on below for an overview of what you need to know to get started.
Insurance coverage for weight loss surgery is an important factor for most patients. This can vary between insurance carriers and policies, but most policies do have coverage for bariatric surgery. Our team will help determine your specific coverage and policy criteria to give you a good idea of what to expect financially and medically from the process. Typically qualifying accepted criteria for weight loss surgery are framed in terms of your health and degree of clinical obesity.
Our team will work with you to determine if you are medically a good candidate for bariatric surgery and determine what your insurance company may require for coverage. Should coverage not be available, we will discuss your self-pay options including financing.
The first step in our bariatric program is attending a live seminar or watching online. This step offers an overview of the process, our practice, and all of the options available. The seminar prepares you to make the most of your first appointment with one of our surgeons. It will help you understand the terminology and start thinking of questions you want to ask at your initial consultation. The online and live seminars are free and offered to you with no commitment.
Once you have completed a seminar, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with one of our bariatric surgeons whenever you are ready. Remember, scheduling your first appointment does not mean you are scheduling surgery, simply that you are taking the next step and learning more about your individual situation, and developing a potential care plan. For some patients the process may require several months of monitoring or an underlying condition may be discovered that must be addressed. The timeline from seminar to surgery can range from a few weeks to over a year. We recommend starting sooner rather than later and keeping in mind factors like insurance requirements, annual deductibles, or major life events you may have ahead.
Click here to register for an upcoming live seminar or online seminar. Call our office should you have any questions. Our team is happy to help and we are excited to be a part of your journey towards taking control of your health.