Lap Band Surgery Cost

Lap band surgery cost anywhere from $16,000 to $30,000 and is one of the most popular forms of bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Lap-Band surgery has helped many people who are suffering from severe obesity, and morbid obesity and is literally saving lives. The Lap Band surgery cost is much less than another type of bariatric weight loss surgery, gastric bypass surgery, because it is less invasive and requires less work, under the knife. All weight loss procedures require extensive work afterwards, if you really want to see results and become healthier and happier.

What is Lap Band Surgery, Exactly?

The Lap Band surgery is a procedure that is used to help dangerously obese and morbidly obese people lose excessive amounts of weight by manipulating the stomach’s intake of food. This process uses an inflatable band to divide the stomach into two sections, upper and lower. The band is tightened around the stomach, much like you would tighten a belt, reducing the stomach’s intake of food and liquid.

The surgeon will make a small opening in between the upper and lower sections so that  some material can pass through, but this is going to be a very small amount. Your stomach will not be able to handle anywhere near the amount of food you were eating prior to the surgery.

Will My Health Insurance Cover the Surgery Costs?

This surgery is approved by the FDA and also many insurances will cover some, if not all, of the cost. In order to be covered by these health care insurances you have to submit a Letter of Medical Necessity, written up by your health care provider, stating that it is medically important that you receive the lap band surgery due to serious health risks and concerns.

In the Letter of Medical Necessity you must have enough information to meet your specific insurers criteria for potential coverage. On average, you are not considered for bariatric surgery, unless you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (80-100 pounds overweight). This categorizes you as morbidly obese.

Under BMI 40 and Suffer From Serious Medical Problems?

Although BMI of 40 is required, you may also be considered if you have a BMI of at least 35 and already have serious medical problems because of the weight, and if the problems are life threatening, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea or heart disease. You must have documented proof that you have suffered from severe obesity for at least 5 years, and that you genuinely want to lose weight and improve your quality of life. They will very likely ask to see documented proof such as grocery receipts, gym memberships, any attempt with weight loss programs, pictures, and weight change over the years.

Document any and all weight loss attempts, no matter how small, such as programs (Weight watchers,  NutriSystem), diet plans (commercial – South Beach diet, Atkins; or your own created diet plans), books on weight loss, workout videos, seminars, medications, weight loss pills and supplements. The more documents you have the better chance you will have at being considered for coverage of the lap band surgery cost.

Got Denied?

If your insurance denies your request, there are appeals and other such processes that you can look into. Many times the bank might be helpful and the hospital may also be able to help work out some sort of payment plan that lets you pay over a decided period of time.

In Conclusion

The lap band surgery cost will be different for every person. If you have a BMI of 40 or more (or 35 with concerning health problems related to the weight) then you should consider Lap-Band surgery. It is less invasive than gastric bypass and can also be reversed if needed/wanted. Although insurance might help cover the costs, there are still other outside factors that you need to keep in mind that will require money from your own pocket.

Such factors include certain medications, bandages and first aid supplies, time out of work, help around the house during recovery, babysitting (if you have kids or animals), new diet foods, usually these foods will be more expensive because you will be told to follow a specific diet that is much healthier and restricted, any weight loss support groups, programs, diets and products, and the cost of all new clothes as your weight begins to drop. Other financial additives may be from any complications as well as more surgery afterwards (for example, you may be left with a lot of left over saggy skin and some insurances do not cover procedures that take care of saggy skin because they consider it a cosmetic surgery).