One of the most important words in any medical practice is, “Insurance” (that is the “I Word”). Dealing with insurance, insurance coverage and policy requirements has become a specialty. Our office staff has the professional knowledge and skill to assist patients in navigating the insurance system. If you need help with these important matters, please …
Category Archive: insurance coverage
Apr 03
Are you insured for weight loss surgery?
Did you know that since 2006, in many cases Medicare has offered coverage for weight loss surgery? This makes good sense when you consider that obesity-related disease is consuming more and more of the Medicare budget. Diseases like type-2 diabetes, heart failure and vascular disease are often harder on seniors than on younger patients. The …
Mar 25
Is It Covered by My Insurance Policy?
That is one of the most common “medical” questions that surgeons get, and it is a vitally important question to many patients. Some surgical procedures are absolutely necessary (“medically necessary” as the insurance people say). No one will argue that removal of a ruptured appendix is optional. It is not, but insurance carriers may consider …
Mar 08
What do I need to do before weight loss surgery?
From a patient’s point of view, one of the most important people in a medical office is the insurance secretary. When there is any doubt about coverage, this person has the skill and knowledge it takes to negotiate the approval process. Our office, which is part of the Advent Health Group, works with numerous health …
Feb 06
Weight Loss Surgery and Insurance
Some surgical procedures are unquestionably necessary and automatically covered by any good insurance policy. Others, like some cosmetic surgery, are entirely optional and not commonly covered by any insurance. Weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) sometimes falls into a middle ground. It may help to have participated actively in an exercise program in a supervised bariatric …
Nov 23
Insurance Coverage
Lack of insurance coverage sometimes discourages patients from even investigating medical treatment, especially for procedures like bariatric surgery. In many cases, patients are surprised to find that their carrier will cover some or all of the cost. The only way to find out with certainty is to work it through the insurance office in your …
Apr 27
Improve your chances for insurance coverage
Getting your medical insurance to cover weight loss surgery is not a “slam dunk,” no matter which coverage you have. Each insurance organization has its own procedures and requirements, but there are some things you can do to make approval more likely. To find out more, read, “Improving Your Coverage Odds.”
Apr 25
See if we accept your insurance
Our office works with many, many health insurance organizations. We accept Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Adventist Health Systems, United Healthcare, Secure Horizons and others. Click Insurance to see a complete list. If you need more information, you can contact us by using this link- Contact Dr Birkedal or phone us at (386) 231-3530.
Mar 30
Check out our video on insurance and bariatric surgery
Still have questions about weight loss surgery and insurance? A video may be worth a thousand (or more) words! Check out Bariatric Surgery is it covered by Insurance?
Mar 28
Does my insurance cover weight loss surgery?
Are you wondering about insurance coverage? There is no doubt that insurance reimbursement is one of the important factors in choosing any physician, surgeon or a weight loss surgery procedure like gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve. Read about some ways you can increase the chance of your insurance carrier approving bariatric surgery here – …
