What Insurances pay for WLS?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Each plan is different. The big national plans differ from state to state, and as was already pointed out, from employer to employer.
Your friends (and everyone else) need to read their individual plans for themselves, and if they have a choice of plans, read all before making a choice.
Larra
aphilips and larra are right. Individual employers can purchase rides for WLS will be covered. At my last job, I had the same insurance company that I do now. I had a WLS exclusion. Now I have a different job but the same insurance company and its covered.
Medicare covers it (straight Medicare. Not sure about the HMO's). Some of the Medicaid HMO's cover it, but I don't think they all do.
Its just one of those situations that require a lot of research.