Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is an operation that creates a sleeve-like stomach in the patient. This reduces the amount of food that can be stored in the body and making the patient fuller faster. The surgery can be costly, but when weighed against the expenses related to comorbidities due to obesity, they seem fairly reasonable.
The average cost of gastric sleeve surgery is between $12,500 and $24,000 with an average of $15,500. The cost of such an operation can be varied depending on some factors including location of the procedure. Here is some information on the going gastric sleeve costs in several modern cities and around the world.
| State/Country | City | Lowest Price | Average Price | Highest Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | New York City | $17.400 | $19.000 | $24.000 |
| Illinois | Chicago | $14.800 | $16.000 | $19.200 |
| California | Los Angeles | $14.300 | $16.000 | $18.200 |
| California | San Diego | $15.800 | $16.225 | $18.000 |
| Texas | San Antonio | $11.100 | $14.500 | $15.120 |
| Texas | Houston | $12.200 | $14.000 | $15.220 |
| Texas | Dallas/Fort Worth | $13.000 | $14.800 | $15.000 |
| Kansas | Wichita | $11.210 | $12.000 | $14.200 |
| Arizona | Phoenix | $18.300 | $23.000 | $24.500 |
| Massachusetts | Boston | $22.220 | $25.000 | $34.200 |
| Nevada | Las Vegas | $11.200 | $12.675 | $14.301 |
| Florida | Miami | $13.750 | $14.400 | $15.600 |
| Georgia | Atlanta | $9.950 | $11.000 | $12.500 |
| Louisiana | New Orleans | $13.200 | $15.100 | $16.600 |
| Hawaii | Honolulu | $15.500 | $16.200 | $18.225 |
| Oregon | Portland | $18.200 | $20.000 | $22.340 |
| Washington | Seattle | $15.250 | $18.363 | $21.300 |
| Canada | Vancouver | $16.700 | $17.000 | $19.200 |
| Canada | Montreal | $17.300 | $19.250 | $25.000 |
| Canada | Toronto | $17.500 | $19.600 | $21.000 |
| Mexico | Tijuana | $3.700 | $5.100 | $11.000 |
Methodology: Information Gathered May 2016, Self-Pay Information for Bariatric Surgeons in these Major Cities.
Reasons for Different Price Points
Many facilities will work with you to reduce the price by offering a discount for those that pay in cash. You can get a discounted rate in this way, and you could finance the procedure with the help of the facility. More health insurance companies are starting to cover bariatric surgery. They may include the entire system, or they could cover up to 85% of it leaving you with some out of pocket charges to handle. You might be required to meet specific criteria to get coverage.
The price of gastric sleeve surgery is varied in other ways besides location. Depending on the facility and the surgeon that you choose, you may pay more or less. Also, if you need extra support before and immediately after the surgery, the cost could go up. The cost of the procedure is less than the comorbidities costs associated with obesity. Since obesity is linked to such things as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, intestinal issues and much more, the price for gastric sleeve surgery now and avoiding these conditions later can be a deciding factor.
Related: Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico
Part of the charge for the surgery is the pre-surgery appointments, x-rays, labs, anesthesia, hospital charges, the charge for the professionals, and any medications required. There may also be charges that you need to consider after the surgery such as your hospital stay, any follow-up visits required and visits with nutritionists and other specialists that can help you get the best results.
Surgeon Quality
Gastric sleeve surgery is a procedure that offers a high success rate for most patients. The cost is necessary to take advantage of what the surgery can provide. It is important however to consider the quality of your care over the price when you are looking for a facility for your gastric sleeve surgery. Take the time to check out the surgeon’s reputation and experience in the field before you decide.
Comparative Costs
The price of gastric sleeve surgery is no inexpensive, but can be well worth the effort if you have tried other weight loss methods and found no success. It is vital to remember that the cost is going to be more than Lap-Band surgery and perhaps less than gastric bypass surgery.
The success of this operation is substantially dependent on lifestyle changes that the patient makes after surgery. A new attitude toward food and proper exercise are also necessary for the complete success of the operation and long-term weight management. These things could carry some expense with them as well, particularly if you need additional help from a weight management plan. In the long run, you will be saving money by finding good health before you suffer severe effects from your overweight condition. Discuss the options with more than one professional before making your decision. They can help you to weigh the options and choose the surgery you are the best candidate for.
What’s Included in the Cost
What is included in the average price for a gastric sleeve surgery can vary from surgical center to surgical center? When you receive a price quote for your surgery, make sure that you know the following:
- Whether the price is for an insured patient or a cash-only patient.
- Whether the procedure is an inpatient procedure or an outpatient procedure.
- Whether the anesthesia, facility fees, and physician fees are covered.
A sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve price should include the service, payments for the surgeon and other staffers, the anesthesia, and everything involved in the actual operation. Your costs may also include visits to the surgeon before and after the procedure, so find this out beforehand. If there are additional costs involved in the process, such as out-of-pocket expenses, make sure you’re aware of this beforehand.
Insurance vs. No Insurance
The costs above are considered to be cash costs, meaning that this is what you can expect to pay out of pocket if your insurance does not cover the procedure. If your insurance coverage covers the cost of the proceedings, then it will likely cost more because there are often cash discounts, but these additional costs will be rolled into the price that your insurance company will pay. Make sure that you are acutely aware of what your insurance company will and will not cover before going through with the surgery so that there are no surprises.
Related: Insurance Coverage for Weight Loss Surgery
Medicaid and Medicare
The sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve procedure is one of the few weight loss surgeries that Medicaid is willing to cover. With Medicare, on the other hand, this type of surgery is covered on a regional basis only. What this means is that some states will include it while others will not. If you are covered by Medicare, you should call your provider to determine whether or not you will have the coverage you need.
Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery: The Bottom Line
Because costs can vary so much from state to state, insurance provider to insurance provider, you may feel compelled to shop around and consider your options. While price is an important consideration, do not let cost goad you into choosing a poorer quality surgeon. Finding the best possible surgeon for your weight loss surgery is essential, so do not sacrifice quality in search of a lower price.