Does BMI Affect Coverage for Post-surgery Complications?

Post-surgery complications can range from mild discomfort to serious medical emergencies. In such scenarios, the follow-up care coverage of the insurance policies is immensely helpful. However, the presence of high BMI can significantly impact this coverage. Read along to understand the post-surgery complication coverage and the impact of BMI on them.

What are the Coverages Available for Post-surgery Complications?

Mostly, insurers offer coverage on post-surgery complications for up to 180 days after hospitalisation. During this time frame, beneficiaries can get coverage for various expenses. These are listed below:

Follow-up Consultation Charges

Post-surgery doctor consultation is a must as it can help patients understand the dos and don’ts for fast recovery. Hence, these visits can add up to a significant amount; insurers usually cover them.

Essential Routine Test Expenses

Tests such as ultrasounds, blood pressure examinations, and so on are crucial to understanding the body before surgery to avoid complications. The costs for these medical examinations are also covered under a health insurance policy.

Hospital Readmission Charges

In case the patient suffers from post-surgery complications, they will have to get admitted to the hospital for further treatment. The costs for these medical procedures are also included under the policy terms.

Prescribed Medication Costs

Often, doctors prescribe a variety of medications for faster recovery of the patient. Their total cost can be substantial. However, policies often offer coverage on these expenses, ensuring a worry-free recovery.

How Does BMI Affect Coverage for Post-surgery Complications?

Patients with a high BMI value indicate that they have a high percentage of fat tissue in their bodies. These tissues can block the vision of the surgeon, increasing surgery duration. When paired with other health-related factors, high fat percentage can cause severe complications post-surgery.

Thus, insurers often reject policy approval for people with high BMI. However, if they approve, they can make alterations in the policy clauses so they do not have to incur losses when covering for such complications. Some of these alterations are listed below:

• Increasing the policy premium by adding loading charges


• Making changes in the inclusions and exclusions of the insurance plan


• Needing the submission of medical reports during policy purchase


• Scrutinising the claim requests for treatments more carefully


• Increasing the waiting period for the pre-existing disease treatments

How to Choose the Right Policy for Post-surgery Complications with BMI?

If a person has a high BMI, selecting the right insurance plan becomes imperative for adequate financial coverage. Some tips for this are listed below:

• Checking the extent of coverage for obesity-related diseases


• Going through the network hospital list for cashless treatments


• Calculating the total premium cost to check if it is within budget


• Finding the availability of benefits like wellness programs and online consultations

Final Thoughts

Having a BMI value over 30 can make it challenging for individuals to get the right coverage for medical treatments. However, policyholders can get pre-authorisation for treatments from the insurer to ensure that all their claims get approved.