Financial Overview

You’ve decided to take a big step, choosing weight loss surgery as an effective means of treating your obesity. You’re determined to start on the path to weight management. You’ve decided that of all the weight management programs out there, the Marina Weight Management Center offers you the best probability to lose weight fast and effectively. You’ve researched surgical weight control methods and providers, and you’ve scheduled a consultation with the doctor.

Insurance Approval Process for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

• First, you should contact our office. Our insurance specialist will need a few pieces of basic information from you in order to confirm whether you have insurance coverage for the procedure.
• The next step is to come in for a consultation with our bariatric team. During this visit, we will discuss available treatment options and confirm whether you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.
• Your insurance company may require that you meet with your primary care doctor first to obtain a referral. If this is the case, we can work with your physician to ensure that this process goes smoothly.
• Once we have confirmed your insurance coverage and you have selected a treatment plan, we will work towards obtaining your surgical clearance and insurance authorization.
• Each patient receives a detailed list of everything they need to do, and many of the necessary steps can be completed in a single day at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital.

These steps vary based on your insurance plan and medical history but generally include a cardiac clearance, psychological evaluation, and dietary consultation. Regardless of what is required by your insurance, we will work with you every step of the way until you are ready for your surgery.

Financial Assistance for Weight Loss Surgery Candidates in Los Angeles

If you do not have insurance, or if for another reason you need to seek alternative financing, the Marina Weight Management Center can help. There are a few ways that people commonly finance bariatric surgery on their own: these include paying with a credit card, paying with cash, and seeking to finance through an agency that specializes in financing for medical procedures like this.

Weight Loss Surgery Insurance Coverage and Reimbursement Amounts

Reimbursement varies with each individual insurance policy. The terms of your policy will determine what is covered and how much, if any, you will have to pay out of your own pocket. Consult our insurance specialist or your insurance company for more information.

Insurance - MBSAQIP Accredited Center

Your insurance plan likely helps to pay for approved treatment from a recognized bariatric surgery center. Indeed, in some states, it is legally necessary. Obtaining insurance authorization can be long and complicated, but the Marina Weight Management Center will help you throughout the process to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Some insurance companies have their own designation to help consumers make informed decisions and find quality, specialty care. These designations recognize centers that have demonstrated expertise in bariatric surgery. Facilities must meet rigorous clinical criteria, demonstrate successful outcomes and show their commitment to quality care.

Contracted & Accepted Insurance Providers at Our Los Angeles Weight Management Center

The Marina Weight Management Center is a contracted provider with the following major insurance companies:

• Anthem Blue Cross
• Blue Shield
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Medicare
• Aetna

We are also contracted with a number of smaller PPO, HMO, and IPA plans. The insurance coordinator at our center for weight management will be happy to assist you.