Free Noom? Yes, health insurance will pay

Weight loss is a top New Year's resolution. Noom is a great app with human coaching to help people lose weight and keep it off. Noom can be expensive, but can you get Noom for free? Does health insurance pay for Noom? In my case the answer was yes.At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, weight loss reimbursement is offered alongside fitness reimbursement. They've made it much easier to understand since I requested reimbursement last year.Here's the FAQ for "What qualifies for weight loss reimbursement?"

Participation fees for hospital-based programs and in-person Weight Watchers sessionsParticipation fees for Weight Watchers and other non-hospital programs (in-person or online) that combine healthy eating, exercise, and coaching sessions with certified health professionals such as nutritionists, registered dietitians, or exercise physiologists.

Notice, Noom isn't officially named on the list even though Weight Watchers (not nearly as good as Noom) is. But I called Blue Cross and they told me Noom was reimbursed. When I submitted my request for reimbursement online it was paid right away.This is the best of all benefits because there's no co-pay, no co-insurance, no prior authorization and it doesn't come out of my deductible.Here's the simple form I filled out online in 2020:Screenshot 2020 03 30 23.35.25Does your plan pay for Noom? I don't know, but it might. And it should. Losing weight and keeping it off is a win-win. It makes you healthier and saves the health plan money on medical costs.


By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.

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