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Information
Cost of Lap Band
Surgery
Lap Band Insurance
Coverage
Lap Band
Weight Loss
Surgery
Lap Band
vs. Gastric bypass
Financing
Your Lap Band
Lap Band
Candidates
Before/After
Lap-Band Pictures
Qualify For
Lap-Band Surgery
Choosing a Bariatric
Surgeon
BMI Calculator
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Lap Band
Surgery Cost
The cost of lap band surgery has
decreased
substantially over the last two
years. This combined with
the fact that patient outcomes have
continued to improve. This
could be one a great opportunity for
you to take advantage of this
procedure and accomplish your
personal weight loss goals as well as
improve your overall physical and
mental health.
According to
the National Institute of Health:
"Lap band surgery patients show a
dramatic and sustained improvement in
the quality of their lives beyond the
extent of their weight loss". Multiple studies continue to prove
that that patients who have undergone
bariatric surgery have
greater earning potential
and see less discrimination
in the current job market.
There are now many reasons to
consider lap band surgery that are
beyond the immediate health benefits.
The cost of the procedure
varies by geographic market and
facility selected. We
offer the most competitive rates
available and many times there is no
cost at all to the patient if you
have insurance. To help you
find the best facility and surgeon
for your needs please take the time
to fill our out contact form by
clicking the link below. Our professional and courteous staff
will contact you and answer any
questions you may have.
We are extremely proud to have had over 6000 patients
have utilized our educational program to
select the right surgeon and facility.
We are proud that those thousands of
patients have some of the best
documented
outcome
statistics
in
the
world
according
to
the
facilities
in
which
they
had
their
surgery.
By
primarily
specializing
in
bariatric
surgery,
we
educate
our
patients
on
their
options
rather
than
designate
one
price
and
program
for
each
patient. Choice
leads
to
high
quality
care
that
is
more
affordable
for
you
and
your
family.
Many
insurance
policies
cover
lap
band
and gastric
bypass
surgery.
If
you
do
not
have
insurance
or
your
policy
has
an
exclusion
there
are
still
options
available.
The
cost
of
a
Lap
Band
or
Realize
Band
surgery
has
continued
to
decrease
over
time
as
well
as
the
duration
of
the
procedure.
LAP BAND
Procedure Cost
The cost of a LAP
BAND procedure could
vary from state to
state and even from
city to city.
Bariatric Surgery Specialists cuts down on
the risk of paying too much and improves your
changes of getting the right bariatric
surgeon for your particular medical needs. These variations
are often due to the
type of health
insurance plan you have, whether the surgeon
and hospital you choose is an in-network
provider, and whether your procedure is
performed as an in-patient (overnight stay)
or out-patient (same day). Generally speaking
the cost of the procedure (facility, surgeon,
and anesthesiologist) can cost as much as
$30,000 at some hospitals. If you
provide us your contact information we can
assist you in reducing that cost
substantially as well as financing the entire
"out of pocket" cost of the procedure.
Please fill out our contact form
and our staff will do our best to get you the best price and
best surgeon available.
In addition to the
surgery, you will
need to be seen by
your doctor for
follow-up care and
adjustments to the
LAP BAND so that you
get the best
results. These
follow-up visits
will run from
approximately $35.00
to $200.00 each,
although
some
surgeons
will
include
includes
transportation,
hotel,
hospital,
anesthesia,
drugs,
surgeon,
pre
and
post
op
care
in
the
total
price.
Insurance
and Health Plans
Today many health
plans cover the LAP
BAND procedure,
which means most, if
not all, the costs
will be paid for.
Each health plan
will have certain
criteria that need
to be met before you
can actually have
the surgery.
Attempting to
navigate the world
of insurance can be
a daunting
experience, but this
Web site provides
useful information
and resources to
help you.
In some cases your
insurance may not
cover the LAP BAND
procedure and will
issue a “denial” to
your “prior
authorization
request.” A denial
may be due to a
medical policy
exception clause, or
your health plan may
not cover bariatric
(weight-loss)
surgery. Depending
upon the reason for
the denial, you and
your doctor may
still be able to
reverse the denial.
The Personal
Cost of Obesity
Weight loss can
change your life.
Losing excess weight with
the LAP-BAND® System
can significantly
improve your health
and enhance your
psychological and
social
well-being—not to
mention your overall
quality of life. You
may also find that
dramatic weight loss
can significantly
reduce
weight-related
costs, which on
average can be more
than $15,000 a year
per person! What
better investment
than in yourself and
your future?
Insurance
Alternatives
Following denial or
when insurance
coverage for the LAP
BAND System
procedure is not
available, there are
several alternatives
that can be
considered as viable
payment options.
- Cash (Lump Sum
Payment)
Options include
using a 401(k)
fund, savings
or stocks.
- Financing
- Credit Cards—Patients
may be able to
take advantage
of some low
rates that are
available with
many credit
cards. Credit
cards are often
as easy to
qualify for as
a loan; in
addition, many
credit card
companies offer
flexible
payments and
faster
decisions.
Please keep in
mind, however,
that they may
not offer a
credit line
large enough to
cover the
procedure and
interest rates
are subject to
change.
- Loans—Options
include equity,
secured,
unsecured, and
combination
loans from a
financial
institution
(i.e. bank,
credit union,
etc.). Ask your
LAP-BAND
surgeon if he
or she is a
participant in
INAMED Health’s
LAP-BAND
Patient Finance
Program. If
not, your
surgeon can
easily enroll
in this program
by contacting
his or her
INAMED Health
Sales
Representative.
Loan approval
and eligibility
will be based
on the credit
worthiness of
the borrower.
Lenders often
take into
consideration
credit rating,
current
earnings,
assets, and
future
assessments.
Multiple
borrowers
increase the
likelihood of
loan approval.
This means that
you may
consider asking
a loved one to
co-sign or to
apply for the
loan on your
behalf.
Monthly payment
will vary based on
the term of the loan
(1 to 10 years) and
the interest rate
(on average between
6 percent and 10
percent). Based on
the chart below, if
you borrowed $10,000
at an interest rate
of 10 percent over
10 years, then your
monthly payment
would be a mere
$132.20 per month.
This is less than an
average car payment!
Annual
Interest |
1 Year |
2 Years |
3 Years |
4 Years |
5 Years |
6 Years |
7 Years |
8 Years |
9 Years |
10 Years |
|
6% |
$86.07
|
$44.32 |
$30.42 |
$23.49 |
$19.33 |
$16.57 |
$14.61 |
$13.14 |
$12.01 |
$11.10 |
|
7% |
86.53 |
44.77 |
30.88 |
23.95 |
19.80 |
17.05 |
15.09 |
13.63 |
12.51 |
11.61 |
|
8% |
86.99 |
45.23 |
31.34 |
24.41 |
20.28 |
17.53 |
15.59 |
14.14 |
13.02 |
12.13 |
|
9% |
87.45 |
45.68 |
31.80 |
24.89 |
20.76 |
18.03 |
16.09 |
14.65 |
13.54 |
12.67 |
|
10% |
87.92 |
46.14 |
32.27 |
25.36 |
21.25 |
18.53 |
16.60 |
15.17 |
14.08 |
13.22 |
|
15% |
90.26 |
48.49 |
34.67 |
27.83 |
23.79 |
21.15 |
19.30 |
17.95 |
16.92 |
16.13 |
|
20% |
92.63 |
50.90 |
37.16 |
30.43 |
26.49 |
23.95 |
22.21 |
20.95 |
20.03 |
19.33 |
While financing is a
viable option,
please keep in mind
that not all
borrowers qualify
for a loan. Types of
loans and amounts of
security determine
the interest rate
you will receive.
There are strict
credit limits, and
collateral is often
required for secured
loans.
Potential
Tax SavingsIn the year you
finance your
LAP-BAND® System
procedure, you may
be eligible to
receive thousands of
dollars back in
potential tax
savings. Think of
this as a discount
on your procedure.
IRS Publication 502
states you can
deduct your medical
and dental expenses
when they total more
than 7.5 percent of
your adjusted gross
income (see p. 2 of
Publication 502).
Adjusted gross
income is your total
income less a few
very specific
deductions. Medical
expenses may include
fees paid to
doctors, payments
for hospital
services,
prescription drug
costs, physician
co-pays, and the
cost of
participating in a
weight-loss program
for a specific
disease, including
obesity. Speak with
your tax advisor or
see
IRS publication 502
for details.
Additional Information about the costs associated with the Lap-Band Surgical Procedure
The Cost of Lap-Band Surgery
Although it should not be the only criteria when choosing a surgeon or facility, the cost of Lap-Band surgery is an important consideration since it is a sizeable amount of money that will be spent. However, the money is put to good use if it improves the individual's health and quality of life. The costs can vary based on where the surgery is performed and on the individuals specific condition. It is extremely important to find out all related costs and consider all the financial issues before the surgery takes place.
When discussing costs, the individual should inquire about all costs of the Lap-Band procedure from start to finish. The costs to consider include pre-op tests, surgeon fees, hospital charges and associated surgery fees. There are also additional costs in the follow-up care, including nutritional counseling, psychological support, and follow-up medical visits.
In the USA, the cost of Lap-Band surgery can range from $8,000 to $30,000. The Lap-Band surgery is also available out of the country, often at
similar costs to the United States. The Lap-Band procedure is widely used in Australia and Europe, where the procedure was available about eight years before it was approved in the United States, at costs that can range from $8,000 to $16,000. The surgery is also performed at similar costs in
Mexico
and
Dubai, United Arab
Emirates.
Besides the actual costs, there are other financial considerations to look into. If the patient has health insurance, one should see if the insurance plan covers the surgery and how much of the charges they will pay. As health coverage and medical eligibility can vary from company to company and plan to plan, it is important to contact the insurance company directly for approval. Also, many doctors and hospitals offer financing options or installment plans for payment.
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