Gastric Bypass and Insurance

I live in Arkansas, and both my wife and I are morbidly obese. We are interested in getting gastric bypass or lapband surgery, but we can't afford the $20,000 each to get the surgery. Do you know of any national insurance companies that would cover such a surgery (and perhaps the cosmetic surgeries, if needed, to remove extra skin)? I would appreciate any and all help you could suggest. Thanks.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

These procedures are performed first by general surgeons, and they would be in the best position to advise you about insurance coverage for the bypass surgeries.