Health Insurance for Bariatric Surgery in India

Bariatric surgery makes changes to your digestive system and helps you lose unwanted weight. With the weight reduction, you can stay away from many obesity-linked diseases. However, the cost of bariatric surgery can go up to INR 5 lakh in India. And if you do not have a health insurance plan, it could drain out your hard-earned savings in no time. According to India Laparoscopic Surgery Site, the cost of bariatric surgery across different Indian cities is as follows –

But health insurance can cover such expenses and relieves you from financial hassles, at least. Read this post further and know more about the top health insurance plans for bariatric surgery in India.

Go Digit Health Care Plus Policy

The policy will cover the expenses for bariatric surgery if the medical practitioner sees it medically necessary. But the claim for such expenses shall be admissible subject to the following conditions:

1. The minimum age of the insured should be at least 18 years
2. The medical practitioner or the bariatric surgeon must confirm the insured’s existing Body Mass Index (BMI) and health conditions as follows:
3. Class III Obesity (extreme obesity)- [BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)]
4. Class II Obesity- [BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2) along with any of the following comorbidity – Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiovascular Disease like Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, Poorly Controlled Hypertension.
5. History of Coronary Artery Disease with a surgical intervention that includes Cardiopulmonary Bypass or Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
6. Cardiopulmonary Problems due to another disease process that includes but is not limited to the documented severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), confirmed on polysomnography.

Bariatric Surgery claim shall be acceptable under Go Digit Health Care Plus Policy only if it comes under any of the below procedures:

1. Gastric Bypass – The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
2. Biliopancreatic Diversion with or without Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) Gastric Bypass
3. Sleeve Gastrectomy
4. Laparoscopic Gastric Banding

Note: Bariatric surgery shall not be covered for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, treating drug-induced obesity, severe untreated hormonal imbalance, psychiatric and eating disorders induced obesity. You will get the bariatric surgery cover after the expiry of the waiting period as mentioned in the policy document.

Bajaj Allianz Health Guard – Gold

If you are hospitalized for bariatric surgery on the advice of your attending doctor, the company will pay your reasonable and customary expenses of bariatric surgery. You are eligible for this benefit under Bajaj Allianz Health Guard – Gold if you meet the criteria below –

The presence of severe obesity in adults aged 18 years and above is defined with BMI >= 40 in conjunction with any of the comorbidities – coronary heart disease, medically refractory hypertension (blood pressure > 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic despite the concurrent use of 3 antihypertensive agents of different classes), Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Bajaj Allianz Health Guard – Gold has a waiting period of 36 months for bariatric surgery cover that starts from the date of first commencement of the policy.

Tata AIG MediCare Premier

Tata AIG Medicare Premier covers the reasonable and customary expenses for Bariatric Surgery if the following conditions are met –

1. Surgery conducted upon the attending Doctor advice
2. Age is a minimum of 18 years
3. BMI >= 40
4. BMI >= 35 in conjunction with – Obesity-related cardiomyopathy, Coronary heart disease, Severe sleep apnea, Uncontrolled Type2 Diabetes

Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy

The insured can cover his/her Bariatric Surgery expenses under the Star Comprehensive Insurance plan. Coverage under this surgery shall be available to the insured after the expiry of a waiting period of 36 months and payable, provided the policy is in force.