My insurance has an exclusion that states it will not cover any complications associated with bariatrics. What is the cost of the most common complications and any advice for navigating this issue?
June 22, 2017
Answer: Cost of complications after bariatric surgery This is one of the most important questions you could ask in the self-pay scenario. Let me preface by saying that MOST OF MY PRACTICE is bariatric surgery on patients without insurance coverage for bariatric surgery... so this is a question I commonly get. BLIS is indeed a program that will cover complications, but it is expensive. In addition, surgeons that use the program are required to use it on every patient they operate on. It would add several thousand dollars to the cost of every operation.I chose not to use the program for that reason. It just costs too much. Besides, many patients have insurance that doesn't cover bariatric surgery, but will cover the cost of complications. So these patients would be wasting their money.Our self-pay package for a sleeve gastrectomy is $11,200. That covers hospital, anesthesia, and surgeon fees. There are no extras. If you have to stay a few days extra, there's no extra charge. If you need a blood transfusion (very rare), there's no extra charge. On the other hand, if you have to go back to the operating room, you will get an extra bill from anesthesia as well as the hospital. I don't like when this happens and I negotiate with the hospital to keep the costs down, but it could go as high as another $10,000. Fortunately this has never happened. But it might.The best advice, of course, is to get a job with good insurance that covers bariatric surgery. Failing that, find a surgeon you trust, lose some weight before the operation to reduce your risk, and then go for it. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, the chance of having an expensive complication is well under 1%.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful
June 22, 2017
Answer: Cost of complications after bariatric surgery This is one of the most important questions you could ask in the self-pay scenario. Let me preface by saying that MOST OF MY PRACTICE is bariatric surgery on patients without insurance coverage for bariatric surgery... so this is a question I commonly get. BLIS is indeed a program that will cover complications, but it is expensive. In addition, surgeons that use the program are required to use it on every patient they operate on. It would add several thousand dollars to the cost of every operation.I chose not to use the program for that reason. It just costs too much. Besides, many patients have insurance that doesn't cover bariatric surgery, but will cover the cost of complications. So these patients would be wasting their money.Our self-pay package for a sleeve gastrectomy is $11,200. That covers hospital, anesthesia, and surgeon fees. There are no extras. If you have to stay a few days extra, there's no extra charge. If you need a blood transfusion (very rare), there's no extra charge. On the other hand, if you have to go back to the operating room, you will get an extra bill from anesthesia as well as the hospital. I don't like when this happens and I negotiate with the hospital to keep the costs down, but it could go as high as another $10,000. Fortunately this has never happened. But it might.The best advice, of course, is to get a job with good insurance that covers bariatric surgery. Failing that, find a surgeon you trust, lose some weight before the operation to reduce your risk, and then go for it. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, the chance of having an expensive complication is well under 1%.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful
March 16, 2015
Answer: Other insurance First, follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter. Second, you might consider getting a supplemental insurance for a brief period of time that would cover complications should they arise - consider an Obama-care type policy, or talk to some health insurance agent to get a policy..Third, some surgeons have an additional policy for weight loss operations that allow them to offer extra coverage - however, often this is NOT enough for the most severe complications of gastric leak.
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March 16, 2015
Answer: Other insurance First, follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter. Second, you might consider getting a supplemental insurance for a brief period of time that would cover complications should they arise - consider an Obama-care type policy, or talk to some health insurance agent to get a policy..Third, some surgeons have an additional policy for weight loss operations that allow them to offer extra coverage - however, often this is NOT enough for the most severe complications of gastric leak.
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