Question:
How will i know if i am a candidate for bariatric surgery?

How can i get insurance approval. Who determines if you are a candidate for this type of surgery?    — Kimberly D. (posted on August 2, 2001)

August 2, 2001
First, check your Human Resources Medical benefits guide. You should've gotten one when you started your job. (Mine says that they will pay for the surgery if you are twice the weight you're supposed to be). If you can't find it, call your insurance company and ask what their requirements are. While my work HR manual was strict, the insurance company only required that I be 100 pounds overweight. Your bariatric surgeon should be the one to determine whether or not you're a good candidate. S/he will do an exam and will ask questions then make the determination. But just because s/he says you're a good candidate doesn't mean that the insurance will cover you. I suggest you start with insurance first. Good luck!
   — Kimberly L.

August 2, 2001
"Typical" Candidates are people with a BMI of 40 or over, which would mean you're 100 lbs or more overweight. Also common are people with BMI's slightly under 40 that suffer "co-morbids" diseases related to morbid obesity. These would include but are deffinately not limited to things like Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, Joint pain, Diabetes.. But as the last person said, if you meet these criterias the first place to check would be with your insurance.
   — Elizabeth D.