{"id":47902,"date":"2022-01-10T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T14:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=47902"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:58:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:58:44","slug":"obesity-and-health-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/obesity-and-health-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"What obesity treatments does insurance cover?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As part of every annual checkup, your healthcare provider measures your height and weight. These two numbers are used to calculate your body mass index (BMI), a measure that gauges if you\u2019re at a healthy weight. Under 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or higher is obese. BMI numbers aren\u2019t perfect\u2014they don\u2019t account for lean muscle mass, for example\u2014but they are a helpful guideline for your health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obesity is linked to different health problems\u2014such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart attack, stroke, various cancers, and even early-onset arthritis. \u201cAnd then we have the mental health aspects of increased risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse,\u201d says <\/span>Delene Musielak, MD<\/span>, founder and host of The Dr. Mom Show.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, it\u2019s hard on your body, and your mind. If you\u2019re trying to lose weight for health reasons, insurance coverage for obesity treatment can add another complicated factor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What obesity treatments does insurance cover?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Obesity affects <\/span>more than a third<\/span><\/a> of Americans. The frustrating thing about health insurance is that coverage typically pays for the complications of obesity (like <\/span>diabetes<\/span><\/a> and heart disease care) but not for <\/span>treatments<\/span><\/i> to help offset the extra pounds causing health issues. If your weight is affecting your health, treatments can include weight management therapy, prescription medication, surgery, or medical devices like an intragastric balloon. Unfortunately, coverage for obesity care is pretty inconsistent.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>8 medications that cause weight gain<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s this perception that, if they offer coverage as a health insurance provider, everyone who needs it is going to show up tomorrow and want this care and it\u2019s going to be really expensive,\u201d says Joe Nadglowski, CEO of the <\/span>Obesity Action Coalition<\/span><\/a>. \u201cSo they put all these barriers in front of people. They put higher copays. You have to fail at all these other programs first before you can access some of these therapies. So even if there is coverage, it\u2019s very rarely easy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These charts offer a brief overview of which weight loss procedures and programs are covered by insurance, and which aren\u2019t. Every plan and <\/span>state<\/span> is different, so regardless of what\u2019s listed below, you\u2019ll want to check with your provider\u2014even if it\u2019s Medicare or Medicaid obesity coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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