Financial Help for Weight Loss Surgery

Looking for financial help for weight loss surgery? Before we talk about it, let’s learn a little bit more about the procedure and what it does, shall we? I am sure you know that obesity has become a serious problem in the United States. There have been numerous researches and studies that have confirmed the significant relation between obesity and many life-threatening diseases or disorders including heart attack, diabetes, etc.

I believe that everyone wants to have a healthy life, and I have seen many of my overweight friends work so hard and successfully reduce weight. However, there are also some who doesn’t seem to have the same success story albeit they have tried just as hard as the others. Perhaps they have to work harder, or perhaps they need to have a different approach, I don’t really know. One thing is for sure, some of these people are considering having weight loss surgery.

Financial Help for Weight Loss Surgery – Things to Consider

Weight loss surgery does not come cheap. For most people, having a weight loss surgery can really put some strain on their financial situation. The cost for this procedure differs greatly depending on several factors, but even the cheapest one is at $16,000. The cost of the procedure is determined by:

1. Type of surgery

There are several weight loss surgery types, including adjustable gastric banding, stomach stapling, biliopancreatic diversion, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, etc. Needless to say, the type of surgery you choose will determine the large portion of the fee.

2. Hospital and Surgeon Fee

The hospital and the surgeon are also a major factor determining the cost. The more experienced the surgeon or the more ‘stars’ the hospital has, the more money you will spend.

3. Other fees

Other fees include anesthesia fees, lab test, x-rays, etc.

Basically, the cost of the surgery can reach somewhere between $16,000 and $35,000. Pretty expensive, right? Therefore, it is understandable that the surgery is beyond most people’s budget. After all, it’s not like there’s $25,000 money sitting around for free.

So what are your options?

Sadly, weight loss surgery is not included in any Medicaid or Medicare program in any state. There are also no grants available, at least not that we know of. Therefore, there are only two options left, which are:

1. Insurance

Health insurance is probably your best shot in getting government grants for weight loss surgery. However, it won’t be an easy road. There are many insurance companies that are against providing help for the surgery. Therefore, you need to convince them that doing so will also help them reducing the risk of fatal diseases. Work together with your doctor and insurance agent to see if that’s possible.

2. Financing companies

If you fail in getting the help from your insurance company, you can try to finance your surgery. There are plenty financing companies available in every county in United States. We recommend you to visit several companies and get their quotes. Make a comparison at home, consider your income and don’t rush your decision. This is important because you will be paying the money in many months to come.

I hope this can help you find the financial help for weight loss surgery!

References:

• Healthy Lifestyle – Weight loss – http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/gastric-bypass-surgery/art-20046318?pg=2
• Cost/Finance for Weight Loss Surgery – http://www.hda-online.org.uk/obesity/surgery/finance-surgery.html
• Image: drstevenfass.com