How To Pay For Weight Loss Surgery

*Results may vary.

Insurance

Although weight loss is important for your health, often insurance does not pay for your bariatric surgery. And insurance almost never pays for dietary counseling.

If your insurance covers bariatric surgery, we take what your insurance pays. But, you will be responsible for co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance.

We take most major insurance: BC/BS, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, United Healthcare, Humana, etc. Understand that every insurance carrier has rigorous requirements for you to get approval for bariatric surgery. This may include but is not limited to 6 months or more of physician-supervised dieting, a 3-5 year history of being morbidly obese, extensive records, dietician assessment, monthly visits with the dietician, psychology clearance, medical testing, etc. Each company, and even each policy, has different requirements. Please have patience as we work with you and your insurance company to get approval. It’s not easy but it’s so worth it. You also have the option of avoiding all of the extra requirements to get bariatric surgery by going the self-pay route.

*We do not accept Medicaid as a primary source of insurance for bariatric surgery*

Fees

  • Program fees: $99.00 (collected at your Pre-Op visit, before surgery.)
  • In-house metabolic and other testing costs: none.
  • Advance payment for services covered by insurance: none. You are still responsible for copays.
  • Post-Op dietary class: none.
  • Sales tax (9%) will be added to the cost of any medical devices purchased. (including Orbera, and Lap band)

Dietician Consultation

Unfortunately, no insurance covers dietician services. However, it’s still important for your successful weight loss with bariatric surgery, and in fact is usually required by your insurance before they will approve bariatric surgery (even though they won’t pay for it). Below is a list of dietitians, cost, and locations:

  • Jodi Valdez, RD offers many different packages, starting as low as $90.00 for two sessions, to meet your needs as well as the needs of your insurance requirements~

    Schedule your initial 60 min. evaluation phone consult online here:

    https://jodivaldezRD.as.me/

    If you are interested in multi-session packages, email her at: jvaldezRD@outlook.com

  • Huntsville - Crestwood dietitian: $30 for 30 mins, $60 for 60mins, $210 for 6 month program for insurance.
  • Huntsville - Huntsville Hospital dietitian: $35 for 30 mins, $99 for 90 mins. - (256) 265-7100

Self-Pay

For those that do not have insurance coverage of bariatric surgery, below are self-pay prices. Financing is available.

Self-Pay Prices (All Inclusive)

Orbera:
$6,995 ($6,495 if using another weight loss clinic approved by Dr. Suggs.)

Orbera Gastric Balloon

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy:
as low as $9,995.

Lap Sleeve

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass:
as low as $17,172. (includes BLIS complication insurance)

Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band:
as low as $7,995.

Lap Band

These prices include program fee, hospital costs, anesthesia professional fees, the surgeon’s professional fee, post-op surgeon fees, pathology fees, as well as the post-op dietary class (the class offered for patients 1-2 months after surgery). This does not include any costs for labs or studies as a part of your medical work-up before surgery (hopefully your insurance will cover this), or costs for medicines before or after surgery.

For the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, adjustments in the first year adjustments are $125 each.

If self-paying for bariatric surgery, Dr. Suggs highly recommends the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for most patients because of the very low risk of long-term problems with the sleeve.

**Financing Available

Prosper Healthcare Lending

Dark-Blue-Buttons_10Prosper Healthcare Lending is the premier financing company in the healthcare industry. With over $3 Billion borrowed and over 250,000 people empowered, this is a name and a program you can trust.

Here are some of the benefits you’ll receive with a loan from Prosper Healthcare Lending:

Immediate decisions without affecting your credit!
Longer terms for lower monthly payments
No collateral required
No prepayment penalties
Fast & easy loan inquiry process
100% Confidential

MDSave

mdsave.com

  1. Compare Prices
  2. Buy Your Procedure
  3. Schedule Your Procedure

Self Pay Bariatric SurgeryIt's really that simple.

MDsave is the world’s first online healthcare marketplace, bringing together patients seeking affordable, reliable care with providers offering high quality services at fair prices.

 

*Finance through MDsave through CareCredit.

Our Patient: Myrtha Jefferson's Testimonial

Pre-Op weight: 347lbs, Almost 2 years post-op gastric sleeve: 199lbs
THAT’S: -148lbs!!!

Myrtha Jefferson lost almost 200lbs with her gastric sleeve surgery!
Myrtha Jefferson lost almost 200lbs with her gastric sleeve surgery!

You never know who you’ll meet when you’re out exercising! Dr. Suggs often meets his bariatric patients when he’s out exercising! Be motivated to get moving like sleeve patient Myrtha Jefferson!

Dr. Suggs meets Myrtha while on a run