Does Medicare Cover Weight Loss Programs?

Does Medicare Cover Weight Loss Programs for senior citizens? Many senior citizens are often unable to get covered by their Medicare coverage because Medicare tends to only treat such weight loss programs as life enhancing. There are some exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, senior citizens cannot count on Medicare to pay for any weight-loss program.

In order to qualify for a Medicare supplement policy that will cover an overweight person, he or she must have an obesity level of forty or more for a single person. This means you will need to get weighed before applying for one of many available weight loss programs in Medicare. You will also have to take a complete medical, educational and emotional history into account when applying. Although the government will help pay for your initial cost, the rest will be paid for by you, as it is a Medicare risk. The specific guidelines for what is considered excessive and what is considered healthy are extremely complex and not defined in the slightest.

If you are determined to be eligible for one of the many available Medicare weight loss programs, you will need to submit your information and wait for a positive response from one of the forms provided by your doctor. Your physician will fill out a Medicare Advantage Eligibility Certificate (Ace). This is necessary for all applicants to participate in any Medicare supplement plan. You will receive a copy of your Ace upon receipt of your application. This document will tell you what forms you will need to fill out in order to apply for your Medicare supplement policy.

After submitting your Ace you will move to fill out a Medicare Supplement Eligibility Certificate for each of the Medicare weight loss programs you are interested in. This is where the government will provide assistance for any excess pounds that you wish to lose, in addition to providing guidelines on what is considered healthy. Part A and Part B of this supplemental insurance coverage are not able to pay for specific surgical procedures, or bariatric surgery.

Part A Medicare provides coverage for both surgical procedures and outpatient care. Part B Medicare supplement insurance is designed to cover specific weight loss services that are deemed medically necessary. These procedures can be anything from gastric bypass surgery to liposuction. Bariatric surgery is not covered under this part of the policy.

Once you complete your application and have all of your necessary forms, you can begin the process of enrolling in one of the many available Medicare weight loss services. Most of these programs offer a free initial meeting to help you determine if this is the right option for you. If you are approved for one of the programs, you will need to return to the office for your first session. During this time, the physician in charge will determine how much Medicare coverages you qualify for, as well as the medications that will be administered to you. A qualified physician will also discuss the best options for both preventative measures and follow up care once you have completed the program.

In order to make sure that you get the proper amount of Medicare coverage for your weight loss services, you will need to submit all of your necessary paperwork. In addition to the application, you will need to submit copies of your medical records, as well as verification of your current weight. Once you complete the application and meet all of the required requirements, you will receive a Medicare weight loss counseling guide that will provide you with the information you need to start on the path to a healthier lifestyle. You will also receive a list of phone numbers to contact should you have any further questions or concerns. Your Medicare representative will give you the information you need to decide which of the available Medicare weight loss programs will work best for you.

While enrolling in one of the available Medigap weight loss programs is not a requirement for receiving medical benefits, it may help you save money on your Medicare Part B coverage. If you smoke, are overweight, or have high blood pressure or diabetes, you may need to look into the specific programs that are available so that you can get the coverage that you need at the best possible price. Medicare Part B premiums are extremely high, and if you can find a cheaper Medicare supplement plan to help cover the cost of prescription medication, you may be able to save hundreds of dollars per year. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly check out the various programs available before deciding on a Medicare Part B provider.