DS surgery

Does anyone know why most insurances will not cover DS surgery?

A lot of insurance companies say the procedure is experimental/investigational.

Wow that's just insane.  That surgery has been around for years now. 

Thanks for your response.

Yes, some are hanging onto the experimental excuse, but medicare now covers the DS and some insurance companies are starting to cover the DS as well. If you want the DS you can fight your insurance company due to the government now acknowledges the DS as a proven weight loss procedure.

Make sure you know your policy on bariatric surgery, inside and out including any exclusions. Also make sure you pick an extablished DS surgeon by checking www.duodenalswitch.com. Your surgeon is not a DS surgeon and will most likely not recommend the DS. Because there are few DS surgeons, many will travel to get the procedure.

Come visit the DS forum and meet many people who had the DS and fought their insurance company, who are still fighting (myself included), and learn more about the best WLS.

Another DS website is www.dsfacts.com

Check it out.

Thanks for the websites.  I'll be sure to check them out.  There are no surgeons in CT that perform DS surgery.  I think the closest would be NY.

Thanks so much!

 There are not alot of DS surgeons, so most insurance companies do not have a DS surgeon who is in network. So if a patient wants the DS it will cost them more money. So they would rather you get a lap band or RNY with one of their WL surgeons who are a dime a dozen and just about everywhere now. Anything to save a buck. Insurance companies are in business to make money and one less dollar spent on you is one more dollar in their pocket.

More and more insurance companies ARE covering the DS (mine does--BCBS of NJ PPO), and many of those who say it is "investigational" can be convinced to cover it on appeals since there are long-term DS studies and satistics now as well as documentation that shows it is not only for the SMO, plus so many other insurances (including Medicare) do cover it.