Pros & Cons of Cash Pay for Bariatric Surgery
Read time: 3-5 minutes
TL;DR
- Approval and funding for weight loss surgery through insurance can be a grueling, time-consuming process, and even qualified patients may be denied coverage
- Bariatric surgery cash pay options give patients quick access to proven obesity treatments right here in the U.S. with a board-certified bariatric surgeon
- Out-of-pocket costs for affordable weight loss surgery start at under $10,000
When you’ve decided it’s time to take control of your weight loss journey, you and your doctor may decide that bariatric surgery is your best treatment option. Next, you’ll be faced with a major choice — do you try to get your insurance company to cover the costs, or do you opt to pay for your surgery out of pocket?
Why Consider Self-Pay Surgery for Weight Loss?
Obesity is a serious and often life-limiting condition that has far-reaching health implications. The sooner you’re able to reach your goal weight, the better your chances are of preventing, managing and even reversing obesity-related issues such as Type 2 diabetes, depression, sleep apnea, and nonalcoholic fatty liver.
Cash pay, also known as self-pay or self-funded surgery, is an increasingly popular choice among patients—particularly since getting approval from an insurance company can be a long, difficult process. Even patients with comprehensive, high-quality health care insurance may discover that getting their procedure paid for is more challenging than they might expect.
Pros of Cash Pay Bariatric Surgery
There are a number of pros that come with paying out-of-pocket for laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery. Self-pay patients have control over which surgeon they use and where and when they have their procedure, and aside from getting medical clearance, there’s no need to seek approval from anyone.
Cash pay weight loss surgery also means patients can maintain their privacy, which is an important factor for many patients who simply don’t want to deal with the extensive approval process that most insurance companies use.
Private pay patients can usually have their procedure completed in a fraction of the time it takes to navigate the multiple lab tests, exams, appointments and assessments required by insurance providers. This can make all the difference for patients who have usually spent years or even decades dealing with the social, emotional and physical challenges of obesity.
Cons of Cash Pay Weight Loss Surgery
While affordable surgery for weight loss in the U.S. costs less than $10,000, this cost may not be feasible for those with few financial resources or who live on a fixed income. In these situations, seeking insurance approval for weight loss surgery is far better than foregoing medical obesity treatment altogether.
Financing Cash Pay Bariatric Surgery
Self-pay bariatric patients can pay for their procedure with cash, using a credit card, or with a line of credit. There are also a number of specialized financial organizations that provide loans for weight loss surgery, giving patients the ability to finance their cash pay procedure over a period of months or years.
Have Questions?
To find out more about cash pay for bariatric surgery in the United States, contact our team of compassionate, professional weight-loss experts here at Dr. Borland’s office.
We offer some of the most affordable surgery options for weight loss patients who are ready to take control of their health. Our fees for minimally-invasive laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery starting at just $11,300, which are among the lowest prices for medical weight loss treatment nationwide.