Know Your Insurance Plan Benefits
In general, insurance should cover:
- Doctor visits
- Surgery
- Hospital and related fees
- Pre-op and post-op appointments
- Diagnostic testing
Our financial care coordinators will verify your insurance benefits after your application is submitted and your health history has been completed in
My Duke Health (previously Duke MyChart).
We also determine what your insurance plan states is medically necessary in order to obtain approval for surgery, as well as what, if any, documentation it requires. For example, some insurance plans require no documentation of your past weight loss attempts, while others require that your primary care doctor provide 12 months of documentation.
Your Financial Responsibilities
More Detailed Information Provided at Your First Evaluation
We go into much greater detail about the financial aspect of weight loss surgery at your first evaluation. We will have already researched what your insurance plan will cover and will meet with you individually to discuss what benefits your insurance provides, as well as what you will be responsible for.
Your Financial Responsibilities
You may be responsible for all costs up until you meet your deductible and your co-pays. Co-pays required by your plan are paid at your appointments. If you have a facility copay for your surgery, it will be due two weeks before your surgery date.
Other Financial Concerns
There are additional costs that will result from your weight loss surgery that will not be covered by insurance.
- You will be out of work while you recover from surgery.
- Your food bill may increase as your diet changes.
- You will have vitamin and nutritional requirements.
- Adopting an exercise program may involve gym costs or a personal trainer.
- Your weight loss may require you to purchase a new wardrobe.
Some plans do not cover the nutritional counseling we provide prior to and following surgery. If that is the case with your plan, we can provide an estimate of these costs so you'll understand what fees you'll be responsible for. We review these costs with you throughout the process and offer suggestions for cost-effective alternatives.
Paying Cash for Weight Loss Surgery
If you choose to pay cash for your weight loss surgery, payment in full is due before surgery.
Charity Care
People who have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery are not eligible for charity care.
