Costs can vary significantly for your gastric bypass surgery depending on where in the nation you live. When you are considering what type of surgery that you want to have, make sure that you do not let cost prevent you from choosing the most qualified surgeon for the job. The gastric bypass procedure tends to be the most expensive of the popular three options, with Lap Band and sleeve gastrectomy being cheaper, but gastric bypass is more cost effective than the duodenal switch procedure.
Gastric bypass surgery is one of the more complex weight loss surgeries, but one of the more familiar. This is the process of making the stomach smaller and also rerouting the intestines so that food is passed directly from the small stomach created to the lowest point of the intestine. This means fewer calories absorbed, fewer nutrients absorbed and less space for food to fit into the stomach. There are costs associated with gastric bypass surgery to consider. The cost of gastric bypass surgery ranges from $15,000 to $35,000 with an average cost of approximately $22,000. Here are some of the costs in various popular cities.
| State/Country | City | Lowest Price | Average Price | Highest Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | New York City | $26.000 | $35.000 | $38.000 |
| Illinois | Chicago | $21.900 | $23.000 | $24.500 |
| California | Los Angeles | $26.000 | $27.500 | $29.000 |
| California | San Diego | $23.500 | $26.000 | $27.400 |
| Texas | San Antonio | $19.400 | $20.900 | $21.500 |
| Texas | Houston | $21.000 | $22.100 | $23.400 |
| Texas | Dallas/Fort Worth | $17.800 | $19.200 | $21.300 |
| Kansas | Wichita | $22.300 | $24.500 | $25.200 |
| Arizona | Phoenix | $24.500 | $26.000 | $28.000 |
| Massachusetts | Boston | $32.000 | $38.000 | $39.400 |
| Nevada | Las Vegas | $18.400 | $20.000 | $23.300 |
| Florida | Miami | $19.300 | $21.000 | $22.400 |
| Georgia | Atlanta | $18.000 | $19.900 | $21.000 |
| Louisiana | New Orleans | $17.900 | $20.919 | $22.100 |
| Hawaii | Honolulu | $19.000 | $22.000 | $24.300 |
| Oregon | Portland | $27.800 | $29.500 | $31.000 |
| Washington | Seattle | $27.000 | $30.000 | $34.000 |
| Canada | Vancouver | $19.300 | $22.100 | $23.500 |
| Canada | Montreal | $21.000 | $23.200 | $24.000 |
| Canada | Toronto | $18.900 | $21.000 | $23.400 |
| Mexico | Tijuana | $5.500 | $8.500 | $14.000 |
The varied prices also come with varied conditions. Depending on the facility that you are having the procedure completed in, you may be able to take advantage of discounts when paying cash for your procedure. This can save you thousands of dollars at the time of the procedure. You may also find that your health insurance covers some or all of the procedure. Some will cover up to 85% of the procedure leaving you with a little out of pocket to pay for. This can be financed by the facility or payment arrangements could be made. You might also be able to use credit cards in order to pay for the difference in the surgery.
Reasons for Different Price Points
Gastric bypass surgery is different based on the individual’s needs as well as the location. If you require a good deal of pre-surgery work such as x-rays, labs, consultations and other professional help, you may have to consider that as part of the costs. Remember that you will be paying for the surgical procedure with hospital fees for your stay and the operating room, the equipment and supplies used, the fee for the professionals, anesthesia, medication and for any blood that may be necessary. There are also costs that may be incurred after the procedure such as follow-up visits and visits with professionals to help you learn about proper nutrition and exercise.
Surgeon Quality
Don’t just look at the numbers when you are trying to decide on the right bariatric surgery for your situation. You want to be sure that you are hiring a professional surgeon with experience in the field and a good track record. It could be to your advantage to meet with more than one in different price ranges to discuss your situation before deciding. This can help you to gain some perspective on the costs in relation to the surgery and the surgeon’s situation.
Comparative Costs
There are many comorbidities that are related to obesity including some forms of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, gastric illnesses, arthritis and much more. These can all be very costly to manage and medicate. Handling your weight with gastric bypass surgery can save you from these expenses later in life and provide you with a better quality of life. If you have tried other weight loss and weight management options and been unsuccessful, you might want to take the time to get the very best information and see if you are a candidate for gastric bypass surgery.
Remember that you will need to make some serious lifestyle changes after the surgery and this could carry a cost. You may need help from a weight management group in order to keep you on track. You also might want to consider joining a gym or taking advantage of some other exercise plan in the area. These things can help you to get the results you are looking for, but they could be costly and should be considered when you are weighing your surgery options and costs. The success of the surgery could depend on it.
It is important that you understand what is and is not included in the cost when paying for a gastric bypass procedure. The aforementioned prices are for cash-basis procedures, so there is a discount rolled into the price for patients who have no insurance or who are under-insured.
What’s Included in the Cost for Gastric Bypass
The costs quoted above are generally meant to include all of the following:
- Physician’s costs for the surgeon who treats you,
- Fees for all other staff members involved in your care,
- Anesthesia costs during the surgery,
- Facility fees for the operating room and recovery space,
- Pre-surgery appointments and any necessary follow-ups.
It is important that you check with your surgeon to find out about additional costs if there are any. For example, you may need to pay out-of-pocket for prescription costs and additional follow-up visits that are not included in the aforementioned costs.
Insurance vs. No Insurance
The costs mentioned in the beginning of this article are for patients who pay in cash, either because they do not have insurance or because their insurance provider does not cover this type of surgery. If you do have insurance, the actual cost will generally be a little higher due to cash payment discounts, but the additional costs will be rolled into whatever your insurance company decides to pay. Make sure that you understand what your insurance company is and is not willing to pay for prior to going through with this procedure.
Medicaid and Medicare
Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure that both Medicaid and Medicare cover. It is important to understand that the requirements for coverage with Medicare and Medicaid are distinct, and so if you have one of these types of coverage you will need to make sure that you qualify individually. Whether you are on Medicaid or Medicare, make sure that you contact your provider to find out what types of weight loss surgery you do and do not qualify for.
The Bottom Line
You will want to consider costs associated with your surgery, but do not let cost stop you from choosing the best possible surgeon to perform your procedure. Make sure that you weigh the costs against the options for surgeons and facilities to find the best surgeon available to you to ensure success with your procedure.