Posted: 06/01/09
According to some medical professionals, morbid obesity is the leading public health crisis in the United States, and bariatric surgery is the only effective treatment for many patients. Recent research shows that the type of coverage or surgery discount patients receive--from private insurance or Medicare--affects the amount of weight they lose post-operation. People with private health insurance lose more weight than Medicare patients. It's important to note that Medicare patients tend to weigh more before, and are more likely to be depressed, have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol and sleep apnea. This equates to them needing extra post-operative support which they may or may not get with Medicare coverage.
Researchers also commented that the Medicare group had the biggest reductions in levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and bigger improvements in fasting insulin, a measure of diabetes severity.
Without surgery discounts or insurance coverage, the procedure costs from $15,000 to $35,000. Many large insurance companies and Medicare help pay for the surgery for severely obese people.
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