Obesity and weight issues pose significant health risks to Mississippians, increasing their susceptibility to conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and degenerative joint disease - all major contributors to premature death. Recognizing the critical need for effective weight management solutions, Singing River Weight Loss Center offers a comprehensive suite of bariatric surgery procedures and non-surgical medical weight loss programs designed to empower patients to transform their exercise and nutrition habits.
Exploring Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options
Singing River Weight Loss Center understands that weight loss surgery isn't the only path. For those exploring alternatives, they offer several non-surgical weight loss options and programs. Their specialized team provides expert support throughout your weight loss journey. These programs often incorporate elements like:
- Weekly Injections: These injections can be a game-changer for individuals who have struggled to lose weight through traditional lifestyle change approaches alone.
- Guided Nutrition Services: Led by an in-house Registered Dietitian, these services are a crucial part of the multidisciplinary approach. The program focuses not only on weight loss but puts a new focus on your overall healthcare.
Surgical Weight Loss Options at Singing River
For individuals seeking surgical intervention, Singing River Weight Loss Center offers a range of bariatric surgery procedures, often performed using the latest technology, the da Vinci® Xi surgical system.
Insurance Coverage and Financial Options
Navigating the financial aspects of weight loss surgery can be daunting. Singing River Weight Loss Center strives to make the process as transparent and accessible as possible.
Insurance Coverage
Singing River Weight Loss Center accepts most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and more. Generally speaking, if you have bariatric benefits as part of your policy, a weight loss surgery procedure will be covered by insurance if you meet the listed requirements. The team will help you verify your insurance benefits prior to meeting with one of their providers. To determine your specific coverage, it's recommended to:
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- Check Your Benefits: Call your insurance provider and ask if you have bariatric surgery coverage.
- Consult with Singing River: Their team will help you verify your insurance benefits prior to meeting with one of their providers.
Self-Pay Options
For patients without insurance coverage, affordable self-pay packages are available, with full prepayment required prior to surgery. Singing River Weight Loss offers many self-funded options for bariatric surgery for patients with a bariatric exclusion in their policy, those who do not have insurance, and those seeking surgery outside the constraints of their insurance company. These cash pay packages include all costs associated with the pre-surgery office visits, facility fees, surgeon fees, anesthesia, overnight stay in a qualifying facility, and one year of follow-up care with your surgeon. Patients are also protected against the possible costs related to complications that could arise for up to 180 days following surgery for most surgery types.
Financing and Savings Options
Singing River Weight Loss has partnered with Singing River Federal Credit Union to offer patients flexible financing and savings options for weight loss surgery. This collaboration empowers members to take control of their health journey with confidence and care.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
If you’re considering weight loss surgery and have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), you may be able to use pre-tax dollars to help cover your costs. Many patients don’t realize that their account can also cover related costs like consultations, lab work, nutrition counseling, and follow-up care. To qualify, you may need a letter of medical necessity from your doctor confirming that the surgery is essential for your health. It’s a smart way to make your surgery more affordable while saving money on taxes.
Employee Benefits
For employees of Singing River Health System, there are certain employee benefits that include a percentage of bariatric surgery coverage after a certain time period of employment, for those that qualify medically. Singing River Weight Loss Center also offers a Jump-Start Low BMI Program, which is a self-pay option.
The Importance of Education and Support
Singing River Weight Loss Center emphasizes the importance of education and ongoing support throughout the weight loss journey.
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Informational Seminars
Patients interested in learning more can attend a free, no‑obligation informational seminar at SingingRiverHealthSystem.com/weightloss. These seminars explain the procedures offered and are a required step before starting the program.
Nutritional Classes and Dietary Consults
Recognizing that education can help you get the best from your surgery, Singing River Weight Loss Center offers nutritional classes and dietary consults with each office visit.
Bariatric Support Groups
Studies show active participation in activities like bariatric support groups help patients lose and maintain weight better than if they do it alone. Singing River Weight Loss Center hosts regular support group meetings, both in person and via Zoom. All events are FREE.
Upcoming Support Group Meetings:
- 1/9/25: New Year, New You: Setting and Keeping Resolutions
- 2/13/25: Guest Speakers: Healthplex Fitness Instructors-Tips to Get Fit
- 3/13/25: Guest Speaker: Dr. Gary Bachman, Ph.D.-Growing Your Own Produce
- 4/10/25: Spring Into Healthy Habits
- 5/15/25: Guest Speaker: Raechel Eddy, Bariatric Fusion-the Importance of Protein
- 6/12/25: Water, Water, Everywhere!
Frequently Asked Questions
Singing River Weight Loss Center addresses frequently asked questions to guide patients through the process:
- How long until I can get an appointment after turning in an Admissions Packet? Approximately 3 weeks. You will be contacted within 2 weeks of receiving your paperwork to schedule an appointment and provide you with more program details.
- How long is the program? The length of the program is dictated by your specific insurance requirements, and all insurance companies are different. There is usually a minimum requirement of 3 months of visits. Some plans require 6 months.
- What is the typical hospital stay after surgery? Gastric Bypass: 2 night hospital stay. Gastric Sleeve: 1 night hospital stay.
- Why is psychological testing required? Some insurance companies require psychological testing; moreover, it is also a standard of care set by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. Singing River Weight Loss Center wants to ensure that patients will be able to adjust to the lifestyle changes necessary after weight loss surgery. If test results show that a patient is not likely to be a good candidate for weight loss surgery, they would not proceed with treatment.
- Do I need to attend a support group if I live out of town? No, but it would be to your advantage to find one near you or contact our support group leader for an online group. Studies show patients who attend support groups lose 33% more weight than patients who do not attend.
Taking the Next Step
Singing River Weight Loss Center is committed to helping you every step of the way. If you are considering weight loss surgery, complete one of their FREE Weight Loss Surgery Seminars.
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