Doctors, patients seek weight-loss surgery coverage for WI state workers

As Wisconsin considers self-insuring state employees, some want officials to take another step that could save money: covering weight-loss surgery for state workers who are severely obese. Forty states pay for the surgery for state workers who qualify, five states are experimenting with coverage and four states provide no coverage, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Wisconsin is in another category, covering less than 5 percent of workers through its most expensive health plan. UW Health surgeons, who have pressed for coverage for all state workers, say the move could save $60 million over 10 years by reducing costs from diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and other conditions related to obesity.