| |
|
|
The
costs of Gastric
Bypass Surgery
The cost of gastric
bypass surgery can
vary widely,
depending on the
type of surgery
performed and
whether or not your
insurance will help
pay for it. Other
factors include the
length of time you
have to stay in the
hospital, and
whether or not any
complications
develop that require
a second surgery.
When there are no
complications, the
most common form of
weight loss surgery,
the laparoscopic
Roux-en-Y gastric
bypass surgery, can
cost from $25,000 to
$35,000, or more.
The less invasive
Lap-Band™ surgery
may cost from
$17,000 to $25,000.
If your insurance
covers these
procedures, your
out-of-pocket costs
will be
significantly
reduced, and should
be limited to your
deductible and
co-pays, plus the
cost of any
incidental
procedures that are
not covered.
The costs of any
surgery will go up
with complications,
especially if a new
operation is
required or if you
need to stay in the
hospital longer.
More insurance
companies are now
paying for the
surgery, but they do
usually have strict
requirements for
eligibility, and
pre-approval is
almost always
needed. If an
insurance plan does
cover these
procedures, they
will usually limit
their coverage to
one or a few
specific types of
surgery, most
commonly the
Roux-en-Y gastric
bypass procedure.
These limitations
are based on a
review of available
safety studies.
Even though many
large insurance
companies are now
offering coverage
for weight loss
surgery, many
employers do not
purchase policies
that cover the cost
of gastric bypass
surgery or other
weight loss
treatment because of
the additional cost.
The cost of
bariatric weight
loss surgery varies
depending on the
surgeon, location,
facility and may
includes the
following fees:
-
Psychologist
appointments
-
Nutritionist
consultations
-
Surgeon fees
-
Hospital fees
-
Anesthesia expenses
-
Lab and X-ray fees
-
Hospital care before and after
surgery
-
Medical tests that will be needed
before and after the surgery
-
Medications
-
Miscellaneous fees
Self-Pay Patients
If you do not have health insurance, or,
your insurance does not cover weight
loss surgery, you will need to cover
your costs yourself. This is referred to
as being a self-pay patient. Hospitals
offer payment plans for some services
allowing you to make payments towards
some or all of your expenses rather than
being charged in one lump sum. Another
option is to pursue private financing
from a lender for your medical expenses,
but as with any other type of personal
loan, you will need to consider the
finance charges (interest rate) and
fees.
Adding Up the Costs
If you decide to obtain financing for
medical costs from a private lender, you
will need to factor in all of the
expenses you will be faced with when
calculating the amount of financing you
need. Your physician should able to
provide you with details about the
anticipated costs.
Whether you choose private financing, or
a payment plan with the hospital, you
will need to establish exactly what your
payments will be, and if they're due
bi-weekly or monthly, so you can plan
your budget accordingly.
|
|
