Cost of Weight Loss Surgery
Most patients who are considering bariatric surgery wonder how much the procedure will cost them, and how they can manage these costs. Weight loss surgery is considered major surgery, and as such it is both complex and costly. The costs have become dramatically lower over the past decade as new surgical techniques have been developed, but it is still not an inexpensive procedure. The exact price of your surgery will depend on your particular circumstances, including the specific procedure performed and the surgeon you select.
The average cost for gastric bypass is $18,000 to $30,000, while Lap Band adjustable gastric banding surgery is usually $17,000 to $25,000. Your costs may be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000. These averages should be considered only estimates; your surgeon will provide a full price quote before performing your surgery. Be sure to ask what the price quote includes; some surgeons will give an all-inclusive price quote, while others only quote the cost of their surgical fee, without including any of the other necessary expenses.
What items are included in the total cost of weight loss surgery? The total expense includes the surgeon’s fee as well as pre-op medical tests, anesthesia, and the surgical facility. These costs can vary based on many factors. Surgical costs vary between geographic regions, between surgeons, and based on the specific type of weight loss surgery performed and the length of time you spend recovering in the hospital.
In addition to the costs of the surgery itself, there are also related expenses that you should consider when deciding whether to undergo weight loss surgery. These include nutritional supplements, which are required after surgery to replace nutrients the body is no longer able to absorb through food, as well as the possibility of future body contouring surgeries to lift sagging areas and remove excess skin. Explore the costs of liposuction, tummy tucks, and related surgeries so that you know what to expect in the years following your weight loss surgery.
Because obesity has both an aesthetic and a medical component, some or all of the costs of bariatric surgery may be covered by health insurance. This is particularly true if your doctor can establish medical necessity. Your doctor may also need to provide documentation that you have been on a physician-supervised diet and exercise plan for six months or longer prior to surgery. Most cases of morbid obesity (a BMI of 40 or higher) are covered by health insurance. If obesity has contributed to serious health concerns such as heart disease or diabetes, your surgery is more likely to be covered by insurance.
If you think that your insurance policy may cover weight loss treatment, be sure to ask for details before undergoing surgery. There will likely be a pre-authorization process involving medical tests, letters from your doctor, and other steps for you to be approved for coverage. Some policies may provide coverage only for certain types of weight loss surgery techniques. Some will only cover the cost of surgery itself, while others cover all related expenses. Make sure that you know what your insurance will and will not cover before scheduling the surgery.
With regards to the costs of surgery that are not covered by insurance, there are many payment plans and other financing options available. Talk to your surgeon about ways to make the costs of weight loss surgery manageable.