If you’ve been told that weight loss surgery is too expensive, that your insurance won’t cover it, or that you’ll spend years saving up to afford it, we have news that could change everything!
Hundreds of the largest employers in the United States now offer bariatric surgery as a fully covered, zero-cost benefit through a program called Lantern (formerly known as SurgeryPlus). That means millions of American workers, and their covered family members, may be sitting on a benefit they never knew they had: the ability to have life-changing weight loss surgery with no deductibles, no co-pays, and no out-of-pocket expenses whatsoever.
At BodyByBariatrics, we are a designated Lantern Network Provider in Orlando, Florida, and we help eligible patients use this benefit every single day. This guide explains everything you need to know from what Lantern is, how it works, which employers participate, what procedures are covered, and how to get started.
Lantern is a national employer-sponsored healthcare platform that specializes in connecting employees with high-quality, credentialed surgical providers at dramatically reduced or completely eliminated costs to the patient.
Lantern has grown into one of the most comprehensive employer surgery benefits programs in the country. Employers partner with Lantern to offer their workforce access to a vetted network of top-tier surgical centers and board-certified surgeons like Dr. Betsy Dovec & Dr. Diana Lane. In exchange for routing elective and planned surgeries through this network, employers are able to dramatically reduce their healthcare costs, and they pass those savings directly on to their employees in the form of zero out-of-pocket costs!
For bariatric surgery specifically, Lantern has become a game-changer. The program covers gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, revisional bariatric procedures, and related care often with no patient cost whatsoever.
This is not a catch. It is a legitimate, fully funded employer benefit! Congratulations!
Here’s the simple version: your employer has pre-negotiated a deal with Lantern. As part of that deal, Lantern has assembled a network of credentialed, highly rated surgical centers and surgeons, like your team here at BodyByBariatrics. When you use a Lantern Network provider for your covered procedure, the full cost of surgery is paid for by your employer’s plan.
How it Works:
We understand skepticism. In healthcare, “no cost” almost always comes with an asterisk. So let’s be specific about what Lantern covers for eligible bariatric surgery patients:
For the vast majority of eligible Lantern bariatric patients, the total cost for a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery, procedures that would normally cost $15,000 to $25,000 or more, is exactly zero dollars.
*Deductible may apply, BodyByBariatrics will discuss with you at your initial consult
This is the question most people ask first and the list is remarkably long which is also exciting!
Lantern currently works with hundreds of employers across virtually every industry, from major retailers and energy companies to government entities, healthcare systems, and educational institutions. Many of these employers offer bariatric surgery as either a fully included benefit or through what Lantern calls a “Carve-Out” which is a dedicated bariatric benefit that sits alongside the employer’s main health plan.
Below is a comprehensive list of employers whose employees and covered dependents may be eligible for no-cost bariatric surgery through the Lantern benefit. If you or a covered family member works for any of these organizations, contact us today to verify your eligibility.
Full List of Lantern-Participating Employers with Bariatric Benefits
This list is current as of 2025–2026. Employer benefit offerings change annually. If your employer is not listed, contact BodyByBariatrics by texting us at 407-543-0971 as they may still participate, or may be adding Lantern benefits in the next plan year.
You might wonder: why would an employer pay for their employees’ bariatric surgery? The answer is straightforward economics and genuine care for workforce wellbeing.
Obesity is one of the most expensive conditions in employer-sponsored healthcare. The comorbidities associated with obesity like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, joint disease, and heart disease drive enormous claims costs. Studies consistently show that bariatric surgery is not only life-changing for patients; it is also one of the most cost-effective medical interventions an employer can fund, because it dramatically reduces long-term healthcare utilization.
Employers who partner with Lantern are making a strategic investment: they pay for a high-quality, vetted surgical procedure upfront, and in return they see significant reductions in diabetes medications, hospitalizations, disability claims, and lost productivity over the following years.
For employees, this means you are holding a benefit of extraordinary value a benefit worth tens of thousands of dollars that your employer has already decided to give you. The only question is whether you use it.
BodyByBariatrics performs all major bariatric procedures for Lantern-eligible patients. Here is a detailed overview of what’s available:
Gastric Bypass is the gold-standard bariatric procedure for patients with severe obesity, type 2 diabetes, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). During a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, we create a small stomach pouch and reroute the small intestine, which limits both the amount of food the patient can eat and the number of calories absorbed.
The results are dramatic and durable. Gastric bypass patients lose 70–80% of their excess body weight on average, and type 2 diabetes goes into remission in over 98% of cases often before the patient has even left the surgery center. Recovery is typically 1 week.
During a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, we remove approximately 80% of the stomach, leaving a narrow, sleeve-shaped tube that holds significantly less food. The procedure also eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin, the primary hunger hormone, which means patients not only eat less, but genuinely feel less hungry.
Patients typically lose 60–70% of their excess body weight following a gastric sleeve. The procedure is highly effective for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and joint pain. Recovery is typically around 1 week.
For patients who have undergone a previous bariatric or foregut procedure, whether a gastric band, sleeve, stomach stapling (vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG)), Nissen Fundoplication, or gastric bypass, and who have experienced inadequate weight loss, weight regain, acid reflux, or surgical complications, revisional surgery may be an option. Lantern covers revisional procedures for eligible patients in many plan configurations. BodyByBariatrics has expertise in revisional bariatric surgery and will evaluate your case during your consultation.
When Lantern approves a patient for bariatric surgery, that patient has the right to choose their provider within the Lantern Network. Here’s why BodyByBariatrics is the right choice for patients in Central Florida and for those traveling from elsewhere in the country or internationally.
Our surgeon is fellowship-trained and board-certified in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery. With extensive experience in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted procedures, patients receive care at the highest level of skill and safety.
BodyByBariatrics operates out of a fully accredited, state-licensed ambulatory surgical center, The Surgical Institute of Central Florida. Our facility is specifically designed and equipped for bariatric surgery, with all the clinical safeguards and post-operative monitoring required for optimal patient outcomes.
All our bariatric procedures are performed laparoscopically. Smaller incisions mean less post-operative pain, lower risk of complications, shorter stay at the surgical center, and a faster return to normal activity compared to traditional open surgery.
Our administrative team works seamlessly with your Lantern Care Advocate. We handle the case submission, pre-authorization paperwork, medical records coordination, and scheduling logistics so you don’t have to. Our patients consistently describe the Lantern experience with us as surprisingly smooth and stress-free.
Weight loss surgery is the beginning of a journey, not the end. Our program includes pre-operative nutrition counseling, dietary education, behavioral health resources, and long-term follow-up appointments to help you maintain your results for life.
BodyByBariatrics serves patients throughout Central Florida, including Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and the surrounding region. We also welcome patients from out of state who are traveling for Lantern-covered surgery. Our team helps coordinate travel logistics when needed.
Lantern members consistently describe the experience of using this benefit as transformative not just because of the surgery itself, but because of the financial relief that comes with knowing the surgery is truly free.
“Working with Lantern was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Everybody was on board helping me and made sure I was comfortable with what was going on… And I didn’t pay anything out of pocket!” — Randell M., Lantern member
For patients who have spent years assuming weight loss surgery was financially out of reach, discovering this benefit and using it at a compassionate, expert practice like BodyByBariatrics is genuinely life-changing in more ways than one.
There are three ways to verify whether you qualify for free bariatric surgery through Lantern:
In most plans, yes. Covered dependents on your employer’s health plan are typically eligible for the same Lantern bariatric benefit. This means your spouse, and in some plans your adult children, can also receive free weight loss surgery.
Your surgeon will review your specific case during your consultation!
No. Your medical information is protected by HIPAA and is not shared with your employer. Your benefits are administered through Lantern, and your specific procedure is kept private.
Lantern-covered procedures include standard post-operative care and follow-up. In the event of complications, your care team coordinates with Lantern to ensure continued coverage for medically necessary treatment.
Eligibility for part-time employees depends on whether you are enrolled in your employer’s sponsored health plan. If you are enrolled in employer-sponsored health coverage, you are likely eligible. Contact us to verify.
Usually not. We’ll let you know what your specific plan requires during your eligibility verification.
Millions of American workers are sitting on a benefit worth over $25,000, a benefit that could change the course of their health, add years to their lives, and resolve conditions like type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and joint pain, completely paid for by their employer.
If you work for any of the employers listed in this article, or if you are covered as a dependent under their health plan, you may be among those millions.
BodyByBariatrics is here to help you use it.
We verify Lantern benefits every day. We perform Lantern-covered bariatric surgeries every week. And we have seen firsthand what happens when a patient finally gets the surgery they’ve wanted for years at zero cost to them.
Don’t leave this benefit on the table.
Ready to Take the First Step?
We would love to take care of you!
Text us at 407-543-0971
Or visit BodyByBariatrics.com to explore our Bariatric Surgery and Medical Weight Loss programs and full-circle support. 
Body By Bariatrics is a designated Lantern Network Provider located in Orlando, Florida. We serve patients throughout Central Florida and welcome Lantern-eligible patients traveling from across the country. This article is for informational purposes only. Coverage terms vary by employer plan. Contact us or Lantern directly to verify your specific benefits.
