The cost of Adjustable Gastric Banding varies depending on where you live. The good news is that insurance providers (including Medicare and, in some states, Medicaid) cover the cost if your doctor establishes medical necessity and you meet the National Institutes of Health (NIH) insurance requirements. The costs are comparable to most bariatric surgery costs and the procedure requires a surgeon with expertise in the area and special equipment.
The cost of Adjustable Gastric Banding varies depending on where you live. The good news is that insurance providers (including Medicare and, in some states, Medicaid) cover the cost if your doctor establishes medical necessity and if you meet the National Institutes of Health (NIH) insurance requirements.
The costs are comparable to most bariatric surgery costs and the procedure requires a surgeon with expertise in the area and some special equipment, just like other weight loss procedures.
Hospital and Surgery Fees
Inpatient lap band surgery will cost more than the outpatient procedure. As with any hospital procedure, facility costs are involved. You will need to pay for a hospital room for your stay before and after your operation. This fee includes care from nurses and other technicians who will be needed to monitor you before and after your procedure, and any pre-op lab work or x-rays.
Once the procedure is started, there's an anesthesia fee as well the anesthesiologist's fee, a fee for the surgeon, and fees for all equipment and supplies used during the surgery, including the lap band cost itself. Once the surgery is completed, you'll spend time in the recovery room where the medical staff monitors you as you come out of anesthesia. You'll be taken back to your hospital room once the staff is sure there are no complications.
Follow-up Treatment
Four to six weeks after surgery, the band will need to be adjusted. This adjustment is usually factored into the cost. These appointments are used to add more or less saline to the band to either decrease or increase the amount of space your stomach has to take in food.
Other Costs to Consider
Vitamin supplements are often used to replace the nutrients a person might be lacking because of a modified diet during the recovery period. It is also suggested that a person who has gone through this procedure meet regularly with a nutritionist to ensure the diet is as healthy as possible within dietary boundaries. Depending on the doctor, these items might be included in the initial fee quote, or they might be considered extras and therefore not included in the overall price.
Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Bariatric Surgeon
What is the cost of Lap-Band surgery?
What does the cost include? Some bariatric surgeons will quote one all-inclusive price, while others will quote the surgery cost only and not take into account pre-op tests, hospital charges, follow-up care and counseling appointments.
Will my insurer cover all or part of the procedure?
Will my insurer cover any complications or re-operations after Lap-Band surgery?
Do you offer patient financing plans to help with the cost?
Making the Decision
Choosing whether to have lap band surgery or another type of bariatric surgery is something that should not be taken lightly. Gastric banding is a life-altering procedure that requires dedication on the part of the patient for it to be successful. Patients without insurance should ensure they are ready to take on the aftercare tasks.
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