Paying for Your Weight Loss Surgery

Posted by Dr. Nick Nicholson on January 1st, 2015

If you have been considering weight loss surgery, then you know that there are many details to consider. First of all, it’s important to find a weight loss surgeon and medical team that fits with your personality and is able to provide you with the care that you need in a location that is convenient for you to get to on a regular basis (you’ll be there quite often between the pre-procedure appointments, the surgery itself, and post-surgical follow-up). There is also preparing for the surgery and lining up your care following surgery. Of course, there is also the important task of committing to a new lifestyle of diet and exercise that will allow you to take the tools given to you by the weight loss surgery and convert them to a plan for longterm health. With all of this, however, there is also the topic of paying for the surgery. In many cases - unless it is considered a medical necessity and even then coverage is not always a given - weight loss surgery is not covered by health insurance. This leaves many people in the position of trying to figure out how to pay for their surgery out of their own pocket.

Luckily, with the understanding that many insurance companies are not forthcoming with payment for weight loss surgery, many weight loss surgery centers offer options for financing. It’s important to find a group that has a dedicated billing specialist that will help you by:

      Determining if your insurance will pay for some or all of the surgery. Someone who specializes in managing insurance companies on a daily basis is in a better position to make the phone call and get all the details about what your insurance company is willing to offer, if anything, and how the paperwork needs to be coded to ensure payment without any issues.

      Offering you suggestions on financing. If you are still going to be responsible for some or all of the cost associated with surgery, you will want to work with your surgery care billing specialist to explore all the options for financing. Some groups offer “specials” on different procedures throughout the year and some offer slightly discounted rates for those who are paying out-of-pocket.

      Managing your payments. If a plan for financing has to be put in place, your medical team billing specialist will help you schedule payments in a way that makes the most sense for you.

There are many options for paying for weight loss surgery, so do your homework and know that, in the end, your health and your life is worth anything you have to work out in terms of payment.

About Author

One of the most experienced weight loss surgeons in the country – Dr. Nick Nicholson – along with a full staff of surgeons, nurses and other experienced clinicians, help patients reverse obesity with LAP-BAND, Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Revisions.