Bariatric Surgery Not Covered Under Many States’ Plans.

reports that bariatric surgery “cuts obese peoples’ risk of death in half,” yet, “many states don’t cover the procedure in their state employee, Obamacare, or Medicaid plans.” The Atlantic adds that without insurance coverage the procedure can cost around $35,000. Those that do cover the procedure may require patients to stop smoking or lose weight in order to qualify, while others require that candidates fail at weight loss. The result, says the Atlantic, is that just “1 or 2 percent—of people who qualify for bariatric surgery actually get the operation.” https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/05/the-obesity-cure-is-out-of-reach-in-the-heaviest-states/559700/