Does insurance cover gastric balloon surgery?
Are you looking for a weight loss surgeon in Hyderabad? Then you are at the right place; consult Dr. Venugopal Pareek, one of the best bariatric surgeons in Hyderabad with nearly two decades of experience. Right now, many people are wondering whether weight loss surgery is covered by their health insurance policy or not. Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of obese or overweight people choosing Bariatric surgery as an alternative to losing weight. This is becoming an ideal procedure when exercise and diet fail to produce desired weight loss goals.
A few years ago, IRDAI — Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, included bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery under medical insurance coverage. IRDAI incorporated the policy into individual health plans, family health insurance plans, and critical illness policies. Nearly 30% to 38% of the population of India was expected to benefit from this policy. Before knowing how health insurance can help, let’s know some details of bariatric surgery, which is also called weight loss surgery.
What is bariatric surgery?
There are different types of bariatric surgeries, and overweight people whose BMI is greater than 40 or above are mostly eligible for these procedures. The gastric balloon is an innovative and minimally invasive bariatric treatment for weight loss. Along with obesity, people who are suffering from serious health problems associated with obesity, like heart problems, diabetes(type-2), high BP, sleep apnea, etc., are also advised to undergo bariatric surgery.
The gastric balloon procedure is a temporary, non-surgical weight loss treatment for obesity. This procedure can be reversed, and it involves placing a balloon in your stomach so that the volume of your stomach is reduced without surgery.
To know more details about gastric procedure READ Swallowable Gastric Ballon for Weight Loss
Other bariatric procedures, like gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric band, etc., involve making permanent changes to the digestive system to achieve weight loss goals. These bariatric procedures can’t be reversed.
However, every patient might not be eligible for a bariatric procedure. If you are overweight and want to know if you are eligible for weight loss surgery, consult Dr. Vengupal Pareek, the best weight loss surgeon in Hyderabad. He will diagnose your condition and suggest the best weight loss solution.
Will health insurance cover gastric balloon surgery?
Yes, health insurance covers the following bariatric surgeries if the patient meets the requirements.
- Biliopancreatic diversion
- Gastric bypass
- Gastric Sleeve
- LAGB — Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding
- RYGB — Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
- Gastric balloon procedure
The coverage depends on many factors, especially the medical insurance policy you choose. In India, there are different health insurance companies, and most of them cover individuals with morbid obesity, obesity associated with other conditions, or life-threatening complications, according to the policy terms. If you are obese and eligible for bariatric surgery, some of your expenses might be compensated according to the terms of your medical policy. The insurance policy for bariatric surgery works similarly to other medical policies; to claim insurance, you need to provide the necessary proof that this surgery is medically essential.
Before 2019, almost all medical insurance policies didn’t cover bariatric surgery. However, IRDAI considered the technological advancements and released new policies in 2019, which cover bariatric surgery under medical insurance policies. Thereafter, many insurance companies are paying for most of the eligible bariatric surgeries. Remember, insurance covers only if surgery is necessary medically, and it won’t cover if the procedures are done for cosmetic reasons.
What is the waiting period for bariatric surgery under health insurance?
The waiting period ranges from 3- 4 years for bariatric procedure insurance policies. Any individual who wants to undergo the surgery should remember that he can claim bariatric surgery expenses only after the completion of the waiting period after purchasing the policy.
Do proper research and reach out to policy-making experts to avail maximum health insurance benefits for bariatric surgery.
