Bariatric Surgery Should Be Covered By Medical Insurance, Device Makers Say

February 2, 2012

Companies who produce medical devices used in keyhole gastric band and gastric bypass operations are pushing the US government and health insurers to provide cover for all types of bariatric surgery.

They say that in the USA alone it will give millions of obese patients a fighting chance to help them overcome severe obesity, which is strongly associated with a host of life-threatening illnesses. Reducing the burden of obesity will help save billions of dollars in healthcare costs for employers and the government it is claimed.
 
"The medical devices industry is calling on the government and insurers to include a wide range of bariatric (weight loss) operations within the package of care they offer US patients because in the long term these procedures improve patients' lives and save money," points out Professor David Kerrigan, medical director of Gravitas.
 
Gastric banding and gastric bypass are both effective weight loss surgery procedures used to help overweight people achieve significant and long-term weight loss. They are just two of seven different bariatric procedures offered by Gravitas, who are able to match each patient to the operation which is most likely to help them achieve their weight loss goals - see our treatment page for more information.


More News

Share this with a friend Got a Question?

Video Interview


Patients are faced with a dizzying variety of procedures. David Kerrigan explains the weight loss surgery options.

Our Patient Stories

Having undergone bariatric surgery, our patients can share their experience of how surgery has made a difference to their lives.