Paying for Bariatric Surgery

The decision to have bariatric surgery is one that people arrive at after months or years of contemplation. But even as you and your healthcare team discuss which type of bariatric surgery is the best one for you, another decision must be made: how to pay for your care.

Because bariatric surgery is considered a weight loss program of choice in lieu of other available weight loss alternatives, patients are not eligible for any financial assistance or discount program to help pay for it. Your insurance policy may pay for some or all of your care, depending on which procedure you have and if it’s considered medically necessary.

As soon as your first appointment with MetroHealth’s Weight Loss Surgery and Weight Management Center is scheduled, call your insurance company to see if they are in MetroHealth’s network. Even if you have coverage from one of the many insurance plans accepted by MetroHealth, the type of policy you have might not pay for all your care, including your follow-up care after surgery.

At MetroHealth, we strive to make weight loss and weight management services accessible for everyone. We understand that insurance may not cover 100% of the cost of your bariatric surgery and follow-up care, which is why we offer private pay options for non-covered services or balances (from co-pays or deductibles) after insurance.

• If your insurance policy includes limits of coverage, the remaining expenses – a co-pay or deductible – will need to be paid out of pocket before the surgery takes place.
• If you don’t have insurance, your entire bill must be paid in full before your surgery date has been scheduled.

Our team of Finance Clearance Specialists is available to answer questions about your insurance coverage. They can help identify whether your insurance company requires prior authorization – providing them with additional information about the medical care before they determine what will be covered.

Before your first surgical consultation, our Finance Clearance Specialists verify your insurance and will send you a letter outlining out-of-pocket costs.  The cost of a self-pay bariatric surgery ranges between $18,000-$23,000.  A no interest pre-surgical payment plan can be set up for you for any remaining out-of-pocket costs you are responsible for.