Contracted & Accepted Insurance Plans

One of the major concerns of people interested in weight loss surgery is cost. Although bariatric procedures are very effective in helping motivated patients to lose weight, which likely translates into longer life and lower medical costs, bariatric operations can involve a significant up-front expenditure. Fortunately, insurance plans often cover this powerful option to treat the condition of obesity — in many places, they are even required to do so.

Contracted & Accepted Insurance Providers at our Los Angeles Weight Loss Clinic

L.A. Bariatrics is a contracted provider with the following major insurance companies:

• Anthem Blue Cross
• Blue Shield
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Medicare
• Aetna
• United Healthcare

We are also contracted with a number of smaller PPO, HMO and IPA plans. To find out if your health insurance covers the surgery, please contact Marina Hospital in Marina Del Rey at (310) 577-5540 or schedule an office visit. The insurance coordinator at our center for weight management will be happy to assist you.

Weight Loss Surgery Insurance & Approval Process

The approval process can be complex, and we give a brief example below. For more specific questions, you can contact us or come in for an appointment. Our team of dedicated specialists will work with you throughout the process to ensure that you have the answers you need to make an informed decision.

Weight Loss Insurance Eligibility Steps

First, you should contact our office. Our insurance specialist will need a few pieces of basic information from you in order to confirm whether you have insurance coverage for the procedure.

The next step is to come in for a consultation with our bariatric team, including our weight loss surgeon, Dr. Jeremy Korman. During this visit, we will discuss available treatment options and confirm whether you are a candidate for bariatric surgery. Your insurance company may require that you meet with your primary-care doctor first to obtain a referral. If this is the case, we can work with your physician to ensure that this process goes smoothly.

Once we have confirmed your insurance coverage and you have selected a treatment plan, we will work towards obtaining your surgical clearance and insurance authorization. Each patient receives a detailed list of everything they need to do, and many of the necessary steps can be completed in a single day at Marina Del Rey Hospital. These steps vary based on your insurance plan and medical history, but generally include a cardiac clearance, psychological evaluation, and dietary consultation. Regardless of what is required by your insurance, we will work with you every step of the way until you are ready for your surgery.

Insurance Centers of Excellence

Some insurance companies have their own Center of Excellence designation to help consumers make informed decisions and find quality, specialty care.  These designations recognize centers that have demonstrated expertise in bariatric surgery.  Facilities must meet rigorous clinical criteria, demonstrate successful outcomes and show their commitment to quality care.  In addition to being an ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, the LA Bariatrics program at Marina Del Rey Hospital in Los Angeles holds Center of Excellence designations from Blue Cross, United and Cigna.

What next?

After your weight loss surgery is approved, we will schedule your procedure. For more information on the insurance process, please call our Los Angeles clinic at (310) 577-5540or schedule a one-on-one appointment. We are located in the Marina Del Rey Hospital, and we serve patients from greater Los Angeles and beyond. Please contact us to find out more about financing a procedure, or to discover if it might be right for you.