Welcome to the Bariatric Learning Center. We publish independent, unbiased news about the bariatric weight-loss surgery.
Obese teens may find it hard to get insurance coverage for weight loss surgery. Coverage for teens under the age of 18 is often hit or miss. Some insurance companies offer it. Others don’t. Flip a coin.
This is in stark contrast to the broad coverage offered to adults these days. Over the last ten years, there has been a steady rise in the amount of policy coverage given to adults who undergo bariatric surgery. Most companies today offer some level of coverage for these procedures. But teens are often left out in the cold.
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the obesity rate among teenagers has tripled since 1980. Today, 17% of children and adolescents are technically obese. Blame Xbox and PlayStation. Blame the Internet. Blame the parents, for that matter. You can blame whoever or whatever you want, but it doesn’t change those startling statistics. And every year, more and more of these teens use surgery to curb their obesity.
Health Insurance Obstacles
A rising number of teens (and their parents) are turning to weight loss surgery as a solution to this problem. In 2007, I wrote about a 12-year-old girl in Texas who underwent bariatric surgery. At the time, this was shocking. Now it’s commonplace. We could debate the sense and safety of this trend all day. But that’s not the point of this story. This is a tale of health insurance coverage — or a lack thereof.
“It’s harder to get teens covered [for weight loss surgery],” said Robin Blackstone, president of the ASMBS. “Plans just say they cover people 18 and over.”
This is a common stipulation found within health insurance policies today. Adults may be covered for bariatric procedures under their existing policies. But teens are rarely covered. Of course, this could all change over the next few years. The rising obesity rate among teenagers may force insurance companies to reexamine their policies and procedures.
Surgery Risks for Teens – A Much Needed Discussion
Bariatric surgery is often promoted with an intentional underemphasis of risks. The billboard or magazine ad shows a young, shapely woman standing on a beach, her toned arms raised in triumph. “Have weight loss surgery,” these ads imply, “and you can look like this!” The complications and risks are purposefully omitted from such ads.
Teens who are considering bariatric weight-loss surgery need to understand the risks associated with such procedures. Just ask the dozens of people who have left comments on this blog post. They’ll be happy to tell you about the darker side of these procedures. But you probably won’t hear it from the surgeons who make a living from these procedures.
Earlier this month, the FDA sent warning letters to the folks at 1-800-GET-THIN (and the surgery centers associated with that company). The company’s billboards follow the typical format described earlier: The fit and attractive woman. The not-so-subtle suggestion that you will look like her, if you get a Lap Band procedure. According to the FDA, the billboards “fail to provide required risk information, including warnings, precautions, possible side effects and contraindications.” Not surprising.
Teens may have trouble finding insurance coverage for weight loss surgery. But even worse, they may have a hard time finding the truth. Parents must do as much research as possible into the potential risks and complications of bariatric surgery. The average 15 year old is not mature enough to do this kind of research on her own.
Surgeons typically offer information about the risks of these procedures. But the parents of teens who are considering bariatric surgery should go much further with their research. After all, the surgeon is a biased source. You want to get some feedback from patients who have actually had these procedures. Fortunately, the Internet makes this fairly easy .There are several online forums and communities designed for bariatric patients. This is a great way to get unbiased information about the real-world complications and risks. You can post a question on BariatricVoice.com to get started.
Do you have questions about medical insurance for teens, as it applies to weight-loss surgery? Visit BariatricVoice.com and post your question in the appropriate group. You’ll get input from people who have been down this road ahead of you.
