Utilization rate of bariatric surgery in an employee-based healthcare system following surgery coverage.

Incidence rates for obesity co-morbidities are high for individuals with class III morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery resolves/improves these co-morbidities, along with reduction in healthcare costs. Despite surgery benefits, payors are reluctant to provide coverage for fear of increased demand and costs. This study examines surgery utilization rates following coverage by an employee-based healthcare system. Bariatric surgery utilization rates were measured 1 year before and after healthcare coverage. The data show before coverage that 18 persons had bariatric surgery for a utilization rate of 1.71%. In the year after surgery, 16 persons elected to have bariatric surgery for a utilization rate of 1.42%. These findings should help to dispel the notion by employee-based insurers that coverage of bariatric surgery will lead to high utilization and associated costs in the early-coverage period.