The cost of weight-loss surgery is determined by a variety of factors, including your location, the hospital you choose, the surgeon’s fees, and the method you choose. According to Obesity Coverage, a bariatric surgery information site, lap-band surgery costs $14,500 on average, whereas gastric bypass surgery costs $23,000 on average.
It’s natural if the price tag makes you gag; after all, it’s more than some new cars cost. It may, however, be well worth the cost. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, weight-loss surgery can help you avoid significant health problems and live longer.
Because of what it may accomplish for your health and happiness, bariatric surgery is one of the rare times when going into debt is a positive choice. Fortunately, there are six different payment options to choose from to make the expense more bearable.
Secured medical loan
A secured medical loan, according to Bariatric Surgery Form, is a typical source of funding. A secured medical loan is one that you back up with assets such as your home or car.
You may be able to borrow up to the whole cost of the treatment, depending on the value of your collateral. Because the loan must be secured with collateral, you may be eligible for lower interest rates than you would with other forms of loans. Furthermore, you normally have up to ten years to repay the debt.
Make sure you can afford a loan before applying for one. If you default on your payments, the lender has the right to confiscate your assets.
Hospital payment plan
You may be eligible for a payment plan depending on the hospital you choose for your operation. Some hospitals will let you spread the expense of surgery over a period of months or even years, with low interest rates. Contact your hospital’s billing department to see if payment options are available.
(k) loan
Although taking money from your retirement account isn’t ideal, there are times when it’s necessary, such as for medical procedures. Taking out a retirement plan loan can help you attain your goals if you’re considering bariatric surgery.
You are borrowing money from yourself when you take out a 401(k) loan. You take out the desired amount and then make interest-bearing monthly installments on the loan. You can normally borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of your vested account amount, whichever is smaller, with a 401(k) loan. You may also be required to pay set-up and maintenance costs.
Before taking out a 401(k) loan, there are certain drawbacks to consider. You lose out on account growth while the loan is being repaid, which might cost you thousands of dollars over time. If you lose your work or are laid off, you have until the due date on your federal tax return to repay the loan; otherwise, you will be responsible for paying taxes and penalties on the amount borrowed.
CareCredit
CareCredit is a credit card that can only be used for medical costs that meet certain criteria. You won’t pay interest if you pay off the loan in full within the promotional period if you can afford a repayment term of 24 months or less.
However, before using CareCredit, make sure to read the tiny print. If you don’t pay off the debt during the promotional period, CareCredit will charge you interest from the initial purchase date, so you won’t be able to take advantage of the 0% interest offer.
You can choose a payback period of up to 60 months, but the interest rate will be comparable to that of other credit cards.
Health savings account
If you have health insurance with a high deductible, you may be eligible for a health savings account (HSA). An HSA is similar to a personal savings account, except that the funds can only be used for medical expenses, such as bariatric surgery. If you’re single, you can contribute up to $3,450 per year to an HSA as of 2018.
A health savings account (HSA) may be a more cost-effective option than a personal savings account. HSA contributions are deducted from your pretax wages, reducing your taxable income. Furthermore, any interest earned on the account is tax-free, and any withdrawals made for qualified expenses are also tax-free.
If you don’t utilize the money in your HSA, it rolls over to the next year, unlike a flexible spending account. As a result, an HSA can be a good method to save money and pay for surgery.
Personal loan
If you have decent credit, a low-interest personal loan could be an excellent choice. Personal loans, unlike secured medical loans, usually do not require collateral, so you won’t have to put your home or other belongings at risk.
You can borrow anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 and have up to seven years to repay it, depending on your credit history and salary. A personal loan might be a cost-effective option for moving forward with your weight-loss operation provided you qualify for a low interest rate.
However, you should only apply for a personal loan if you have excellent credit. Otherwise, you risk paying interest rates as high as 35.00 percent, which could add thousands to the cost of the procedure.
Assume you borrowed $23,000 to pay for gastric bypass surgery and were approved for a five-year loan with a 5.00 percent interest rate. You’d repay $26,042 throughout the length of your payback period. In comparison, if you borrowed $23,000 and were approved for a five-year loan at 35.00 percent interest, you’d owe $48,977. You’d end up spending more than double the cost of surgery due to interest costs.
If you decide to proceed, compare personal loan lenders’ offers to guarantee you obtain the best rates.
What is the cheapest weight loss surgery?
If you have insurance that covers bariatric surgery, gastric bypass is tied for the cheapest treatment. It has the 6th lowest average total cost without insurance.
What qualifies a patient for weight loss surgery?
Your body mass index, a numerical number of your weight in relation to your height, plays a role in determining your eligibility for bariatric surgery. The BMI range of 18-24.9 is seen as ideal. A BMI of 40 or higher is considered morbid obesity.
If you have a BMI of 35-39 with particular serious health concerns like Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery. A BMI of 40 or more is also a requirement.
Why should someone consider having bariatric surgery?
Obesity is dangerous to one’s health. A person who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as someone who is ordinary weight. (After 10 to 30 years of being obese, this effect appears.) Obesity is responsible for over 300,000 fatalities each year in the United States alone. Obesity is linked to a number of serious and life-threatening illnesses, including:
Weight loss reduces the chance of death from these illnesses, according to studies. Patients usually no longer need to take drugs for these illnesses after six months of weight loss surgery. Furthermore, women who were infertile prior to surgery find that conception is achievable following surgery.
Who is eligible for bariatric surgery?
You must be morbidly obese and between the ages of 16 and 70 to be considered for bariatric surgery (with few exclusions) (weighing at least 100 pounds over your ideal body weight and having a BMI of 40). If you have certain pre-existing co-morbidities, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or sleep apnea, a BMI of 35 to 39 may also qualify you for the surgery.
If you’re a woman of childbearing age who wants to have a family, you should know that you can’t get pregnant for at least 18 months after surgery. Pregnancy is extremely harmful for you and your growing fetus because of the rapid weight reduction and nutritional inadequacies linked with bariatric surgery.
What bariatric surgical procedures are performed by surgeons at Cleveland Clinic?
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most routinely done malabsorptive operation. This procedure shrinks the stomach and changes digestion. It is possible to eat less food and absorb fewer calories. By separating the top end of the stomach, the bariatric surgeon produces a tiny pouch. The pouch is then linked to a Y-shaped piece of the small intestine, allowing food to bypass the lower stomach, duodenum (first segment of the small intestine), and first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). The operation establishes a direct connection between the stomach and the lower region of the small intestine, allowing calories and nutrients to skip portions of the digestive tract that absorb them.
The sleeve gastrectomy can also be performed laparoscopically. This treatment entails making five or six small incisions in the belly and performing the surgery with the help of a video camera (laparoscope) and lengthy instruments that are inserted via these incisions. Approximately 75% of the stomach is removed during a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), leaving a narrow gastric “tube” or “sleeve.” During a sleeve gastrectomy, no intestines are removed or bypassed. It takes one to two hours to complete the LSG. Also accessible is an animated video of a sleeve gastrectomy process.
How much weight loss can be expected?
The majority of patients lose between 66 and 80 percent of their excess body weight after bariatric surgery, with the majority of this weight loss occurring 18 to 24 months after surgery.
Is it possible to gain the weight back after surgery?
Bariatric surgery has a proven track record of helping severely obese people reduce weight over time. However, with any form of weight loss, even surgery, there are no guarantees. Only if you are determined to making lifestyle and dietary adjustments for the rest of your life will you achieve success.
What are the risks for bariatric surgery?
All surgical treatments carry hazards, but grossly obese patients are especially vulnerable. Varying treatments carry different hazards, and your risks may be higher or lower than usual based on your own circumstances. It’s also worth noting that weight loss surgery techniques performed by bariatric surgeons with more experience have fewer difficulties. Surgery risks should be reviewed with your surgeon so that you may make an informed decision.
Can bariatric surgery be reversed?
The minimally invasive procedure of laparoscopic gastric banding is reversible. Gastric bypass surgery can be reversed in some cases. Reversal necessitates a second operation of equal or larger magnitude, with equal or greater hazards.
What if I need revision surgery?
Weight loss surgery is not a magic bullet, and while the majority of patients achieve their weight loss goals, revision weight loss surgery may be necessary in some cases. Whether the reason for pursuing revision weight loss surgery is due to insufficient weight loss/regain, unresolved co-morbidities, or medical difficulties, there may be a revision option.
Regardless of the previous surgery, revisional bariatric operations are usually difficult for a surgeon. To obtain the intended results, they require sufficient expertise. Bariatric Centers of Excellence, as designated by the American Society for Bariatric Surgical, offer a multidisciplinary staff and facilities for patients who require surgery revision. Patients who want gastric bypass revision or any other type of revisional surgery should seek out a surgeon at a bariatric facility who has extensive experience with revisional bariatric surgery.
What do I need to know about pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery?
Your body goes through a lot of changes in the first 18 months after gastric bypass surgery. Weight loss is a big one, but your body is also going through hormonal changes that make you more fertile. Please exercise caution during this period and ensure that you do not become pregnant by using a method of birth control. A pregnancy test will be performed if necessary before your procedure.
Much recent research demonstrates that pregnancies in people with a lower BMI are often safer than pregnancies with obesity-related problems. If you’ve had weight loss surgery and are thinking about getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about safe family planning. It’s also a good idea to tell your doctors about it at your weight reduction surgery consultation so they can offer advice and resources.
Because your body is undergoing significant changes during the first 18 months after gastric bypass surgery, it is not recommended to become pregnant until your weight and body have stabilized. Rapid weight loss after surgery causes hormonal changes and may deprive a developing infant of essential nutrients.
Does Medicaid cover gastric sleeve?
Lap-Band Surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and gastric bypass are all covered by Medicaid in most circumstances. These are not just easily funded by Medicaid, but they are also among the most frequently recommended operations. In some cases, these are deemed medically necessary for the patient’s survival and well-being.
Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach while also bypassing a portion of the intestine. As a result, you eat less and the food is delivered directly to the lower intestine. Nutrient and calorie absorption is reduced as a result of the bypass. As a result, it limits food intake while also assisting in weight loss. The top region of the stomach is covered with silicone bands and balloons in Lap-Band surgery. This limits the amount of space available for food storage. In addition, the stomach’s entrance narrows. The technique is less invasive than others because it is performed laparoscopically. It is also desirable because it is simple to reverse and the band can be changed. Finally, a sleeve-shaped, smaller stomach is constructed through gastric sleeve surgery. Because there isn’t much room for food to sit, it passes through the intestines quickly. As a result, it also reduces food intake and calorie absorption.
What is the safest weight loss surgery?
Each type of bariatric surgery has advantages and disadvantages. The surgeon recommends a surgical type based on the patient’s health and needs. Although all surgeries entail some risk, restrictive surgeries are safer than restrictive/malabsorptive surgeries since they do not interfere with the digestive system permanently.
Gastric Banding
This is the simplest and safest of the bariatric procedures. However, the weight loss is less than with the other procedures. Furthermore, people who have had gastric banding are more prone to gain weight in the long run. There is reduced risk of nutrient shortage because the operation has no effect on nutrient absorption.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
For severely obese persons with other health problems, this is a generally safe and easy surgery. Weight reduction is substantial, and nutritional absorption is unaffected. This is a relatively novel technique, and the long-term benefits and hazards are currently being assessed.
Gastric Bypass
This procedure allows for rapid weight loss that lasts for up to two years. It is beneficial to patients with obesity-related illnesses who want to improve their health swiftly. It also has a solid long-term weight-loss track record. Hernias and vitamin deficits due to malabsorption are the disadvantages. Dumping syndrome occurs when food is discharged from the stomach into the intestines before being thoroughly digested.
Duodenal Switch
This surgery is more difficult and risky than the others, and it is also less common. It causes faster weight reduction, but it also increases the risk of hernias, nutrient deficit, and dumping syndrome.
How long does it take to get approved for weight loss surgery?
If there are no medical weight loss program restrictions, most patients can be pre-approved for bariatric surgery within 90 days/12 weeks (with consecutive office visits throughout), although there is no assurance. However, collecting the documentation and testing that the insurance company requires is one of the most significant bottlenecks in the insurance process. We keep you informed by interacting with you on a frequent basis during the pre-operative period.
How do you qualify for gastric sleeve?
The following are the minimum prerequisites for gastric sleeve surgery:
- A BMI of 30 to 39.9 combined with a major obesity-related health issue such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint difficulties, and so on.
Can you get gastric bypass at 200 lbs?
“We get enquiries from folks who are only 50 pounds overweight, or even 20 or 30 pounds overweight,” says Daniel Herron, M.D., chief of bariatric surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Although some unscrupulous practitioners may operate on such individuals, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery recommends that patients have a BMI of at least 40 (approximately 100 pounds overweight) or a BMI of at least 35 plus major obesity-related medical issues such as type 2 diabetes.
How much weight do you have to lose before gastric sleeve?
The following pre-surgical diet may be required by your surgeon two weeks prior to surgery.
- Certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs should be avoided. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol/Excedrin) are some of the medications that may be prescribed.
- Reduce body fat: Patients’ safety is improved by reducing fat in the belly and liver.
- Maintain and protect muscle tissue: On a low-calorie diet, increasing protein prevents the body from utilising muscle tissue as an energy source. Instead, the body will burn fat.
- Prepare the body for surgery and recuperation by eating a balanced diet, increasing protein consumption, and taking vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Prepare the patient for the post-surgery diet: The pre-surgery diet (low-calorie, high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate) is very similar to the post-surgery diet (reduced-calorie, high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate) and will help patients adjust to their new eating habits after weight-loss surgery.
Pre-surgery weight loss increases safety
Losing weight prior to surgery reduces the chance of problems and makes weight-loss surgery more secure.
The main goal of decreasing weight before undergoing weight-loss surgery is to reduce body fat in the abdominal area, particularly around the liver. If a patient’s liver is too enormous, a bariatric surgeon may have to postpone surgery. Shortening the operating time for laparoscopic surgery by reducing the size of the liver makes the process safer.
Losing enough weight before surgery allows for a less invasive surgical method (laparoscopic) rather than open surgery for super-obese patients (body mass index more than 50).
Amount of pre-surgery weight loss
Your bariatric surgeon will calculate the amount of weight loss required prior to surgery based on your health, weight, and bariatric procedure. Before undergoing weight-loss surgery, some individuals must reduce 10% of their body weight. Other people find that dropping 15 to 20 pounds before to surgery is sufficient to lessen the chance of problems.
It’s critical to adhere to your surgeon’s pre-surgery dietary and nutritional recommendations. A pre-surgical diet can help your body prepare for surgery and improve the results. It also aids with the adjustment to the dietary and eating adjustments required following weight-loss surgeryand for the rest of your life.