Question:
Does anyone know if Medicare/Medicaid covers Gastric Sleeve Surgery

I have 2 more months of supervised weighloss til i get scheduled for my RNY and after reading im thinking about switching to Sleeve surgery...    — ddeeeeanna (posted on November 7, 2010)

November 7, 2010
Medicare will pay for the band and for bypass surgery. They do not cover the sleeve yet. They still consider it experimental as most insurance companies do with any new procedure. They will cover it eventually if you want to wait. I have the sleeve, and personally think that the RNY is more effective. Good luck!
   — Bonnie H.

November 7, 2010
Medicaid and Medicare did not cover any but the rny. They also didn't want to cover the band which I wanted. They told me the band was still experimental. This was in September 2010. There's no point in waiting for these to get approved cuz no one knows how long it will take. I was told the band was the next one to get approved in about a year. Since I don't know how much time I have on this earth I just went for the rny. Please feel free to contact me. [email protected]
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 7, 2010
Medicare did pay for mine but only because my doctor said he was doing the first half of the duodenal switch. But I agree with Bonnie H. I had the sleeve performed on April 30th, 2009 and as of today I have only loss 100 pounds I am not complaining but I still have 70 pounds to lose and I am struggling. But it is your preference. Good luck you have a hard decision to make. Liz C
   — joy2others2

November 8, 2010
My girlfriend had the sleeve done 3 years ago in Michigan, she has medicare and they paid. May I ask why you want to switch? If you would like to email me, my addy is [email protected] I also had the sleeve a little over 2 years now.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 9, 2010
Medicare will pay for Duodental switch,which has the best stats for getting rid of diabetes and keeping weight off long term, which they make the gastric sleeve 1st,then the lower part of the limb. Whats nice is you get to keep your real stomach,eat normal,and you can take regular meds,and we are allowed nsaid. My personal opion,go to the Duodental switch board,there are alot of medicare cliets there. Plus there are high numbers of RNYs, getting revised to DS. Just remember,learn as much think twice,one cut. Good luck with your Journey.
   — rebecca W.