Medicare to Cover Bariatric Surgery?

It may happen. According to The Tampa Tribune there is a current proposal to extend coverage for bariatric surgery for Medicare patients under the age of 65. A decision is expected in February.

It looks as though insurance companies may be ready to offer coverage too. Right now insurance companies cover some cosmetic and plastic surgery costs, but the insurance coverage is limited to reconsturctive surgeries.

I see two sides to this: On one hand I see why it would be beneficial to cover bariatric surgery for obese people. The surgery has been proven to reduce the overall health risks to obese people, so that would bring lower costs in the long term. But, are tax payers ready to help pay for bariatric surgery for obese patients through Medicare? And, if you have private insurance, since the surgery is expensive, will it raise the cost for other private insurance customers? What about the younger generation? Would the surgery get so common place that our children may not worry about being obese, seeing it as something they will just get "fixed" later with surgery?

I suppose the debate can go on and on. As a society, we have already been paying the price for unhealthy chosen lifestyles such as people who choose to abuse alcohol and cigarettes, therefore, in a way it would almost be unfair not to include coverage for the obese.