What are the requirements for cost coverage?

The tubular stomach operation does not represent a standard service of the health insurance companies and the assumption of costs must therefore be approved individually on request. There are certain conditions which must all be fulfilled for the request to be approved. Firstly, the body mass index (abbreviation: BMI, body weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared) must be 35kg/m2 or higher.

In addition, there must be secondary and concomitant diseases of overweight such as joint diseases or diabetes (“diabetes”). A BMI of over 40 may not require the detection of concomitant diseases. In addition, overweight must have existed for more than three years.

The age of the applicant must be between 18 and 65 years, whereby the biological age is usually taken into account. A further prerequisite for the assumption of costs is that at least two dietary attempts, cures or rehabilitations have been undertaken in vain, if possible under medical supervision. Furthermore, no addictions or other psychiatric diseases may be present.

What is the difference to a gastric bypass?

The gastric bypass represents an even more radical form of stomach reduction than the application of a tube stomach. A larger, more complex operation is required for the gastric bypass.In contrast to the creation of a tube stomach, the stomach is not only reduced in size during gastric bypass, but its lower end is connected to a lower intestinal loop. In this way the duodenum is excluded from digestion.

With a tube stomach, however, the natural food passage from the esophagus via the stomach into the duodenum is preserved. Therefore, especially with the gastric bypass, there is a risk of developing a nutrient deficiency. After the procedure, the patient usually has to take certain vitamins, trace elements and proteins in the form of food supplements for the rest of his or her life.

In addition, the destruction of the natural gastrointestinal passage through a gastric bypass can lead to a so-called dumping syndrome. Emptying the stomach contents into the intestines too quickly can lead to nausea, abdominal pain and circulatory problems, even fainting. You can find detailed information on this topic here: gastric bypass.