How Much Does Weight Loss Surgery Cost in Connecticut?

One of the most important deciding factors for your weight loss procedure in Connecticut is the surgery cost, which can vary from patient to patient depending on the choice of procedure. Bariatric surgery costs consist of the hospital expenses, the surgeon’s fee, and the cost of anesthesia.

Your specific procedure cost will depend mostly on the type of procedure and your insurance policy coverage and payment amount. When you are considering gastric banding, gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, however, you should also evaluate criteria such as the background, experience and patient feedback on the surgeon who will perform your procedure, as well as the facility where you will have your procedure.

At Griffin Hospital Bariatrics, our program is led by Medical Director Timothy Ehrlich, MD, FACS, a fellowship trained surgeon who has performed over 2,000 weight loss procedures in Connecticut, including LAP-BAND® System, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and revisional surgeries. Dr. Ehrlich is also a key opinion leader in his industry and is involved with numerous studies, including the low BMI LAP-BAND® study. Learn more about Dr. Tim Ehrlich or visit his blog www.drehrlichweightloss.com.

Connecticut BLISCare Coverage

If financing your bariatric surgery might be an option for you, Griffin Bariatrics offers BLISCare coverage as well. BLISCare covers all unforeseen medical complications and is included the self-pay procedure payment option provided by our Connecticut facility. BLISCare requirements are strict and not every surgeon and facility can qualify. There are only two bariatric programs in Connecticut that are able to offer BLISCare, and Dr. Tim Ehrlich and Griffin Bariatrics are proud to be one of them and to be able to offer this additional peace of mind to our patients. Learn more about BLISCare.

Health Insurance for Weight Loss Surgery in Connecticut

Weight loss surgery insurance coverage is offered by several insurance companies in Connecticut. Although typically the approval process is complicated and may take up to six months, we are here to help you navigate the process every step of the way.

As part of our comprehensive support program, Griffin Bariatrics offers a free bariatric surgery insurance evaluation. We will help you determine whether there is a bariatric surgery exclusion in your policy and call your insurance company to find out whether it will cover the surgery in your specific case. In the event that your insurance company has an exclusion or your insurance plan does not cover gastric banding, gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, we also have weight loss surgery financing options to offer you. Griffin Bariatrics is here to help you change your life and achieve your weight loss and overall health goals regardless of the procedure you choose or the payment method you need to use.

Connecticut Bariatric Surgery Insurance Guidelines

The insurance approval process typically consists of the following steps:

1. Every weight loss surgery patient needs to review his or her insurance policy for exclusions of coverage.
2. If bariatric surgery is not excluded, we will help you by calling your insurance company to find out whether it will pay for your procedure.
3. If the answer is yes, we will request a pre-authorization from your insurance company to ensure payment after the surgery is done. For the pre-authorization to be successful, we will ask you provide any records you may have of prior weight loss attempts, health issues related to obesity, medically supervised weight loss program, Body Mass Index (BMI), diet history, etc. Some insurance companies require that you undergo a medically supervised weight loss program prior to approval as well.
4. Typically after about 4 to 6 weeks, your insurance company will make a decision on your claim. If it has been approved, they will send us the approval letter and your surgery will be scheduled.

In the case of denial, you can appeal the decision within 30 to 60 days. If you are a candidate for surgery based on medical criteria, Dr. Ehrlich and your primary care provider can work with you to send a bariatric surgery appeal letter to the insurance company explaining that you need the operation for health reasons.

Weight Loss Surgery Insurance Support In Connecticut

The expert team at Griffin Bariatrics is here for you to help you evaluate your insurance and financing options and make the best decision for you and your family. To learn more, register for a free seminar today.