Bariatric Surgery under Insurance



Bariatric surgery and endoscopic weight loss procedures (Endoscopic sleeve/ Gastric balloon/ Pill balloon) have recently come under the ambit of medical insurance. These are not cosmetic but metabolic procedures and not only reduce the weight of the individual but also lead to remission of obesity related comorbidities like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, joint pains, etc. For this reason, the insurance companies have stopped regarding them as cosmetic surgeries but rather have given them the status of life saving surgeries especially when done for obesity with serious comorbidities.


According to IRDAI guidelines, all insurance companies will provide cashless facility/ reimbursement to patients undergoing weight loss procedures who fulfill the following criteria-

  1. BMI more than 40 kg/m2 with or without obesity related comorbidities.
  2. BMI more than 35 kg/m2 with one or more obesity related comorbidities.
  3. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
  4. Severe obstructive sleep apnea.
  5. Obesity related cardiomyopathy.

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