|
|
Article: TREATMENTS FOR OBESITY USUALLY AREN'T COVERED.(ERIES:WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY)(SERIES: WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY)
- Article from:
- The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)
- Article date:
- January 15, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Capital Newspapers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: ROBYN SHELTON The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, FLA -- If you smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years, you might develop lung cancer. Most insurers would pay for surgery and other cancer treatments without quibbling over it.
But if you gradually piled on weight, then developed diabetes or other problems from obesity, your health plan likely would not cover weight-loss surgery without a fight.
The insurance industry says carte-blanche coverage is not justified because of concerns about safety and long-term effectiveness. But advocates for the obese blame prejudice and outdated views of the risks involved for hindering patients.
...