Atlantic Article about access to weight loss surgery

[Creekimp13 5,837]

www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/05/the-obesity-cure-is-out-of-reach-in-the-heaviest-states/559700/

Interesting read.

[Bryn910 519]

That is a great informative article. I am quite shocked at how many states aren’t covered under Obamacare/Medicaid.

More insurnsce should look at these procedures as preventative; that’s how we (the recipients) see it.

Thanks for sharing

[Sleeved36 356]

Insurance companies do the math. They are concerned with profits, not your health.

If the insurance company pays for bariatric surgery In the long-term they are probably saving Medicare money, not themselves.

Many insurance companies have found that bariatric surgery costs them money bc people lose weight and qualify for skin removal and other surgeries (hips/knees/hernias/cardiac). It is cheaper for insurance to pay for the CPAP and diabetes supplies for a few years, then pass the patient on to Medicare or another insurance company.

There are a few physician's groups and patient advocate organizations working to change this, but it is a slow process.

[istytehcrawk 256]

When I went to my introductory seminar for my current program (in St. Louis) I was surprised when one of the speakers said that Missouri residents who had their insurance through the Marketplace (Obamacare) wouldn't be able to have their surgery covered by their insurance. Luckily, I live in Illinois, so mine was covered, even though it is through the Marketplace. I felt bad for those from Missouri who were hoping to have surgery and hearing that, though!

[sillykitty 10,704]

Good article, thanks for posting!

[Novemberbaby11 6]

Diabetes is expensive, as well as all the other co-morbidities that come along with it.... I work in a hospital, I have 3 patients in the ICU I am in today who are here for diabetic related issues... one day in the ICU is half the cost of the surgery!