[Healthcare cost reimbursement without application-Experiences of a German bariatric service].

Background: Only a small proportion of patients with morbid obesity in Germany have access to the currently most effective treatment, bariatric surgery. A major reason for this is the restrictive attitude of health insurance companies regarding the reimbursement of costs.

Objective: To record the postoperative rate of cost coverage by health insurance companies without the currently common preoperative application for morbidly obese patients who received a guideline-indicated bariatric surgery.