Insurance Coverage for Weight Loss

Abstract

Background Given the prevalence of obesity and associated chronic conditions among U.S. adults, wellness benefits are an increasingly popular approach to promoting weight loss. Purpose The goal of the study was to assess overweight and obese adults’ beliefs about the helpfulness of insurance coverage of weight loss–related benefits, their willingness to pay for such benefits, and whether these opinions differ by individuals’ weight or health insurance type. Methods A national survey was fielded in 2012 am ong non-pregnant, overweight and obese adults who had seen a primary care provider in the past year (n=600). Descriptive statistics summarized beliefs about which weight loss–related benefits would be helpful, willingness to pay for such benefits, and agreement about whether health insurers should be able to charge more to obese individuals. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to determine whether beliefs differed by weight category or health insurance type. Analyses were conducted in July 2012. Results The majority (83%) of respondents cited a specific benefit as helpful. Those with private health insurance had a higher probability (89%, 95% CI=86%, 93%) of endorsing any benefit as helpful relative to those with other types of health insurance. Being obese relative to overweight was associated with greater support (57% vs 39%, p<0.05) for preventing health insurers from charging higher premiums to obese individuals. Conclusions In this sample of overweight adults, a large proportion endorsed the value of weight loss–related benefits offered by health plans. However, only about one third were willing to pay extra for them, and half disagreed with the notion that health plans should charge more to obese individuals. Given evidence of their effectiveness, wellness benefits should be offered to all individuals.

How does physician BMI impact patient trust and perceived stigma?

“…Survey participants categorized their PCPs as 64% male, 67% White and 67% aged 45 or older. As mentioned above, characteristics of our sample are similar to the 2010 BRFSS subset to non-pregnant, overweight and obese individuals (BMI ≥ 25) who reported having a routine check-up in the past year (Jarlenski et al, 2013). …”

“…To verify that the study sample was representative of the U.S. population, we compared our descriptive statistics to the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) subset to non-pregnant, overweight and obese individuals (BMI ≥ 25) who reported having a routine check-up in the past year, published elsewhere (Jarlenski et al, 2013). Characteristics of our sample are similar to the 2010 BRFSS subset.…”

Prevention Is the Best Treatment: The Case for Understanding the Transition from Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to Myeloma

“…It is not clear whether weight loss strategies, either through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery, decrease the risk of progression from MGUS to MM. That said, weight loss is already recommended for the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic disease in obese individuals [ 59 , 76 , 77 ] and recommending weight loss to obese patients is generally not controversial [ 78 ]. However, there are substantial barriers to weight loss that have been well-studied by investigators in the cardiometabolic health sphere.…”

The skinny on obesity and plasma cell myeloma: a review of the literature

“…Weight management programs are covered by many health insurance plans, carry little inherent risk and public support for these types of interventions is high. 100 A substantial number of these patients would not achieve sufficient weight loss, despite diet and exercise instruction, translating to a large investment with little change in population risk. 101 Alternatively, bariatric surgery could be considered for those who do not have success with behavioral modification therapy.…”