The average gastric bypass cost is between $17,000 and $35,000. This estimate may not include the hospital stay, medications or other factors. Some factors that determine the cost of gastric bypass include:
- Length of the hospital stay
- Location of the surgery
- Anesthesiologist fees
- Procedure type
- Procedure fee
- Post operative care
- Possibility of complications
Insurance Coverage
There are some insurance companies that will cover the gastric bypass procedure depending on the type of insurance company and type of coverage. The insurance company may not cover all of the costs, but they may cover part of them. The insurance companies have very strict guidelines when it involves gastric bypass surgery. In many cases, an appeal may have to be filed. Some of the insurance companies that may cover part or all costs of the surgery are Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Medicare, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and others depending on each individual case and policy coverage.
If the insurance company does cover the gastric bypass surgery, they have a list of requirements that one would need to qualify for before they will consider paying for the surgery. Some of the requirements include weight limitations, as only the morbidly obese will qualify for the procedure. Written proof of the diets attempted and failed are also needed, and some insurance companies even require a mental evaluation. Due to the risks and complications, the insurance company may also recommend the various alternatives to the surgery.
Some insurance companies that cover the surgery will only cover the surgery by reimbursement. This type of payment might not come for months after the surgery is performed. In this type of a situation, the patient may need to look for outside financing. Many surgery centers have financial counselors on site to help with this process. Some hospitals have their own payment plans for part of the costs that insurance companies may not cover.
Other Financing Options
There are other financing options available. Medical loans are available through doctor's offices, hospitals and surgery centers. These medical loans will cover all types of surgeries, including the gastric bypass. They also offer financing for those without good credit. Some may need a co-signer depending on the credit. These loan centers offer low monthly payments, fixed interest rates, deferred payments, fixed monthly payments and no prepayment penalty.
Other options for getting the money for gastric bypass surgery is applying for a personal loan from a bank or credit union. This type of a loan may require collateral such as a car, house or something of value. A credit card may be another option. Some credit cards have high limits with low interest rates, depending on the customers credit. One might also consider taking a 401K loan, selling something of value, or asking to borrow the money from a loved one. Combining one or more of any of these financing options may be something to consider.
Gastric bypass is a very expensive surgery, especially if the insurance company does not cover the procedure, but there are other alternatives to help pay for the surgery. The cost of the surgery may be worth the money when compared to a new healthy lifestyle.
