WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's ChoiceWeight Loss Surgery

LEWES, Del. - The first day of Spring is just about a month away, which means bathing suit season isn't far behind. Since weight-loss is a hot topic, many have questions about the many options out there to help you lose weight. That can include surgery, but it's not for everyone and it can be costly.

"As I get older I find different things are starting to happen that the diabetes is causing," replied Maryann Opatt who is looking into getting weight loss surgery.
  
69-year-old Maryann Opatt was diagnosed with diabetes 20 years ago. She believes that weight loss surgery could improve her condition, but on a fixed income, she's concerned about the cost. "If the insurance doesn't take care of it then I have to worry," said Opatt.

Mary Ann brought her concerns to the Beebe Medical Center's Weight Loss Surgery Seminar where Dr. Daniel McCullough addressed sticky issues like medical insurance. "Most insurance companies now will provide a benefit for weight loss surgery," said McCullough.

But Dr. McCullough adds that insurance companies determine eligibility for surgical benefits by the BMI or the body mass index rate. "If your BMI is less than 35, insurance companies will not provide a benefit for weight loss surgery," said McCullough.

Dr. McCullough also discussed the pros and cons of different procedures - gastric by-pass surgery and lap banding are two of the most common surgeries done.

Not all surgical procedures for weight loss are covered by insurance - seminars like this give the patient the information they need to eventually make the right decisions.