Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?
If you have been struggling to lose weight, weight loss surgery may be a good choice for you. Studies show that very few people are able to lose weight and keep it off. Bariatric surgery is the safest and most effective way to lose weight and improve health conditions associated with obesity. Although individual surgical recommendations can only be made after speaking with a weight loss surgeon in a consultation, the general guidelines for being a candidate for a bariatric procedure fall under one of these qualifications:
- Self Pay:
- BMI of 27 or above
- For insurance to pay for surgery:
- BMI greater than 40
OR - BMI greater than 35 with a diagnosis of one or more of the following diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or heart disease.
- BMI greater than 40
BMI is a useful data point for tracking your overall weight loss and is typically an important factor when insurance providers look at covering the costs of weight loss surgery.
All insurance plans vary, but often individuals with one of the following may qualify- BMI greater than 40.
- BMI greater than 35 and at least one or more obesity related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea, or heart disease.
Weight loss surgery is often performed for individuals with much lower BMI's as well, although insurance may not be able to cover the costs, if you have a relatively low BMI, in the 27-35 range, but are unable to lose the last couple of pounds, weight loss surgery may be an option.
This calculator is not intended to replace the evaluation of a health care professional.
