Financing Weight Loss Surgery – All You Need to Know

Financing bariatric surgery makes the treatment possible for the more than one-third of bariatric-eligible patients who are either uninsured or underinsured. But the wrong decisions could cause you to spend thousands more than necessary.

This page will help you make sure that doesn’t happen. Click the links below or scroll down the entire page for a complete review…

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This page assumes that you’re ready to move forward with surgery and are trying to figure out the best way to pay for it. If you’re still up in the air about whether surgery is right for you, see our bariatric treatment page first.

“The money you’ll save and the peace of mind you’ll have…will be well worth it.”

It’s going to take you some time to get through all of the financing bariatric surgery options below and to figure out which options are the most viable. But we promise that the money you’ll save and the peace of mind you’ll have after taking the time to apply all of our recommendations will be well worth it.

You can bookmark this page now by clicking the “Share” button at the top of the right margin.

Who Usually Pays?
#1 – Private Insurance, #2 – Medicare or Medicaidplus_sign

Who Usually Pays?: #1 – Private Insurance; #2 – Medicare or Medicaid

To date, those patients who have undergone bariatric surgery have been able to get insurance coverage about 88% of the time.  Not bad, right?  Not so fast.

Before we explain, the following chart reviews who has historically paid for ambulatory (outpatient) and inpatient bariatric surgery services (1).

financing bariatric surgery

As you can see, the majority of patients get coverage through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

While 88% of patients getting insurance coverage seems high, it still means that 12% had to pay for it out of their savings or find bariatric surgery financing.

Equally as important, these percentages do not include all individuals who are eligiblefor surgery, but merely those who actually go through with it;  35% of patients who are eligible for bariatric surgery are either uninsured or underinsured (2).  Unfortunately, this means that there are many people out there who need help and just aren’t getting it.

This is where financing bariatric surgery comes in.

Further down the page, we’ll discuss all of your insurance and financing options and help you figure out which options could work for you, but first you should understand how bariatric surgery tax treatment can help.

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Tax Deductions & Other Considerations
Bariatric Surgery IS tax deductible, Special Tax Acccountsplus_sign

Tax Deductions & Other Considerations: Bariatric Surgery IS tax deductible, Special Tax Acccounts

“You’re allowed to deduct medical expenses as long as the costs are higher than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.”

It’s important to keep the tax angles in the back of your mind while financing bariatric surgery. 

Bariatric surgery IS tax deductible which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. Throughout the United States, tax subsidies reduce medical costs for the non-elderly by over $208 Billion annually (3). 

The official IRS rules state that you’re allowed to deduct medical expenses as long as the costs are higher than 10% of your adjusted gross income.

In order to receive the deductions, you’ll need to complete Schedule A of the IRS Form 1040. You’ll also need to save your medical bills and payment statements as proof. Note that any reimbursed amounts (such as the amount that insurance paid) cannot be included.

Finding a good accountant or using an effective software program will make this process much easier. These guides can also help ensure that that you deduct as much as possible without violating any IRS laws.

Depending on your employment status, money accrued in special savings accounts (or even your IRA) could also be a bariatric surgery financing option…

  1. Health Savings Account (HSA)
    Individual, Small Business or Large Employer (50+ employees) – HSAs can only be opened alongside a “qualified high deductible” health plan. Money contributed to an HSA, accumulated interest from the accounts where the money is invested AND money taken out of the HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses are all TAX FREE. No other account receives more favorable tax treatment. You may even be able to transfer money already in your IRA to an HSA. See the IRS’s Site for more info.

    Unused HSA savings can also be taken out without penalty as retirement income after a certain age.  See our retirement plan section below for more about using retirement money for financing bariatric surgery.

  2. Archer Medical Savings Account (Archer MSA)
    Small Business – Archer MSAs are very similar to HSAs, except they are for self-employed individuals or small businesses. Click here for the details.
  3. Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
    Large Employer Only (50+ employees) – HRAs can only be offered by your employer, and only your employer can contribute money to them. If your company offers one, make sure your plan allows the use of HRA funds to pay for “all qualified medical expenses” as financing bariatric surgery is not allowed with some plans. More info can be found by clicking here.
  4. Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
    Large Employer Only (50+ employees) – Both employers and employees can contribute to an FSA, also known by its IRS code, “Section 125”. FSA’s can be offered alongside any health plan, and withdrawals from this account can be made tax-free as long as they are used to pay for qualified medical expenses. Click here to get the summary from the IRS.
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Your Options
Private Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Disability Insuranceplus_sign

Your Options: Private Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Disability Insurance

While you’re still likely to have some out-of-pocket costs by financing bariatric surgery with insurance, getting Medicare, Medicaid or your private insurance (employer-paid, small business or an individual policy) to pay will probably be your least expensive option.

Financing bariatric surgery can also be an option if you need help paying out of pocket costs such as deductibles or co-pays (see our brokers, direct lenders and credit cards section below).

In addition, you may be able to collect disability insurance payments while you’re having and recovering from surgery.

If you have medical or disability insurance, click one of the following depending on your coverage…

There we will help you figure out…

  1. Whether your plan covers the surgery
  2. The process for getting the surgery approved
  3. If your plan doesn’t cover surgery, how you may be able to get it added
  4. How to write an effective health insurance appeal letter if your insurance company denies coverage

Each page will guide you back to this Financing Bariatric Surgery page if it turns out that insurance won’t pay. 

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Without Insurance
7 Ways to Make Surgery More Affordableplus_sign

Without Insurance: 7 Ways to Make Surgery More Affordable

The average cost of bariatric surgery depends on which procedure you choose. It ranges from $8,000 to $27,000 without insurance and from $2,000 to $18,500 with insurance:

Will Surgery Complications Be Covered by Your Insurance?

While the likelihood of death is low after bariatric surgery, short- and long-term complications can occur.

If your insurance does not cover weight loss surgery, in all likelihood it won’t cover complications resulting from surgery either. However, emergency treatment will always be covered, regardless of the cause.

Before paying cash or setting up financing, ask your surgeon who will cover the cost of complications should they arise. Some surgeons include costs of complications in their bundled price while others do not.

Don’t have insurance, have insurance that doesn’t cover weight loss surgery or need help with deductibles or co-pays? 

This section will cover all options that could help to ease the financial burden.

"As early as 13 months after surgery, bariatric patients spend as much as $900 per month less than morbidly obese people who don’t have bariatric surgery."

Keep in mind that even in the worst case scenario (you are left financing bariatric surgery on your own), surgery can still be well worth it for a few big reasons…

  • Improving or eliminating obesity health problems – as our Life After Weight Loss Surgery page shows, bariatric patients live longer, have an improved quality of life after surgery, and eliminate or improve numerous major health problems. 
  • Eliminating obesity discrimination – Unfortunately, being extremely overweight often makes people to treat you differently. It has even been shown to cause you to earn less money at work. Successful bariatric surgery improves this 100% of the time.
  • Long-term financial savings – If you have no insurance or if you have insurance with high out of pocket costs, you will save a lot of money over the long run due to lower medical costs following surgery.

    On average, the costs incurred from 1 month before surgery through 2 months afterwards were about $24,500. Beginning at 3 months after surgery, bariatric patients start saving compared to those who didn’t have surgery.

    As early as 13 months after surgery patients spend as much as $900 per month less. The analysis showed that for those receiving laparoscopic bariatric surgery, costs of surgery broke even within 2 years. Those receiving open surgery broke even within 4 years (4).

Before you take action on any of the following options, read the rest of this page to learn all of your options for financing bariatric surgery. We’ve included links at the bottom of the page that can jump you back up to your section of choice.

Keep in mind that these options aren’t “all or nothing.” If you determine that one option is right but won’t cover all of your costs, consider mixing and matching more than one.

Here are your bariatric surgery financing options, starting with the most ideal (in general). You may find that your particular situation rearranges the order a bit…

1.  Financing bariatric surgery through your local surgeon

Most surgeons offer some kind of payment plan to make treatment affordable. Some allow you to pay them interest-free over time, while others will agree to charge you a very low interest rate. Some even offer reduced-cost or free weight loss surgery for those who can’t afford it.

While you are negotiating, do not be confused by doctors offering a payment plan through unsecured credit card companies – this is not the same thing (more on this below).  

If your surgeon is willing to work with you, your financing bariatric surgery plan will almost always be set up on a one-off basis. Always negotiate a fully packaged up-front price for all services so there are no surprises down the road.

A packaged price will typically include:

  • Hospital fee – be sure to confirm how many nights in the hospital are included. Up to 2 nights is common.
  • Surgeon fee
  • Anesthesia fees
  • Routine follow-up visits (including fills for the lap band) – the timeframes will vary, but including follow-up visits for the 12 months following surgery is standard.

Services often not included in the packaged price (that you will have to pay for on top of the packaged price) include:

  • Pre-operative testing – note that some surgeons DO include this in the packaged price.
  • Pre-operative visits, including consultations with the surgeon, dietitian or nutritionist, fitness consultant, psychologist and other professionals.
  • Surgical assistant fees
  • Radiologist fees

Even though these may not be included, your surgeon can still provide you with an estimate of what they will cost. The information they provide may not be all-inclusive, so talk with them about what other charges may arise. These estimates can also be taken into consideration when seeking other options for financing bariatric surgery.

Free Seminars & One-on-One Consultations

Most surgeons offer free seminars and/or one-on-one consultations that teach you about your surgery and financing options.

It’s free, so schedule this now to learn your local financing options before considering alternatives.

Click here to find and schedule a free in-person seminar or one-on-one consultation with a qualified weight loss surgeon in your area.

If you have money saved up to pay for all or a big chunk of the surgery up front, why not try to delay the payments so you can earn interest on what you’ve saved?  The interest you earn in a low-risk investment can help pay for the surgery (if this doesn’t apply to you, click here to jump past the example).

For example, let’s assume that your total surgery costs (assuming no complications) are $25,000. For simplicity’s sake and to illustrate the potential, let’s also assume that:

A)  Your surgeon agrees to spread your payments out over 5 years with no money down up front (so you would have to pay $5,000 at the beginning of each year starting in the 2nd year) and no interest

B)  You have the full $25,000 saved up and ready to invest

C)  You paid the $5,000 at the end of each year

D)  You invest the full $25,000 in a Certificate of Deposit (CD) that earns 2% interest per year

Year
Year
Year 1
Year 1
Year 2
Year 2
Year 3
Year 3
Year 4
Year 4
Year 5
Year 5
Year 6
Year 6
Totals
Totals
Year
Payment
Year 1
$0
Year 2
$5,000
Year 3
$5,000
Year 4
$5,000
Year 5
$5,000
Year 6
$5,000
Totals
$25,000
Year
Savings Invested
Year 1
$25,000
Year 2
$20,000
Year 3
$15,000
Year 4
$10,000
Year 5
$5,000
Year 6
$0
Totals
$75,000
Year
Annual Interest You Earn (2% of Savings Invested)
Year 1
$500
Year 2
$400
Year 3
$300
Year 4
$200
Year 5
$100
Year 6
$0
Totals
$1,500
In this example, Annual Interest You Earn = Savings Invested X 2% (0.02)

With the above example, you just reduced the cost of your surgery by $1,500 (6%).

If your surgeon agrees to financing bariatric surgery with no interest rate, then it’s a no-brainer. If they do charge an interest rate, it still may be worth it if you can find a safe investment that pays you a higher rate.

VOTE for this financing option to help others with their decision

2.  Friends & Family

This option is obviously going to vary widely from person to person, but it should be considered.

Financing bariatric surgery by borrowing money from friends and family can save you the interest that banks will charge which can amount to thousands of dollars. And you may be surprised how willing your loved ones are to help, especially after you educate them about bariatric surgery’s impact to your obesity health issues.

Take a look at this ABC News story about a weight loss surgery patient who got help financing bariatric surgery from her family and friends.

VOTE for this financing option to help others with their decision

3.  Secured Medical Loans

A secured medical loan is a loan from a bank or credit union that you back with some sort of collateral. If you don’t pay the loan back, the financial institution has a right to take ownership of whatever collateral you used.

By far the most commonly accepted form of collateral is your home (also called a mortgage loan).

If you own your home and have at least 10 to 20% of equity built up, a secured loan may be an option for you.

However, due to the complexity of a secured loan (they require a refinance of your home), many patients choose unsecured medical loans instead (discussed further down the page) for loan amounts of $15,000 or less.

See our Secured Medical Loans page for more information.

VOTE for this financing option to help others with their decision

4.  Retirement Plan (401(k), 403(b), IRA, etc.) Loans

Generally speaking, you should never touch your retirement savings if at all possible. There is no telling how long Social Security will be around, and either way, you will most likely need more than what Social Security will pay you to maintain your current lifestyle.

In addition, whatever money you take out of your retirement plan will no longer have the potential to make money for you in the form of investment returns, and when compounding interest is factored in, it really makes taking money out feel painful.

On the flip side, what is the point of having money in the bank if you are not around to spend it due to obesity-related health problems?

After you crunch the numbers and compare interest rates and long-term costs (and potential lost retirement plan returns depending on how aggressively you are invested), you may discover that this is the best option for financing bariatric surgery.

Your first step is to contact your HR department or your retirement plan provider to find out whether you plan allows hardship withdrawals. Hardship withdrawal provisions allows you to to take out money from your retirement plan for unreimbursed medical expenses for you, your spouse or your dependents.

The IRS discourages these withdrawals by imposing a 10% early withdrawal penalty (they keep 10% of whatever funds you withdraw) and by applying your withdrawal amount to your taxable income.

However, you may be able to get the 10% penalty waived in certain situations such as:

  • Becoming totally disabled.
  • Being in debt for medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income
VOTE for this financing option to help others with their decision

5.  Permanent Life Insurance Policy Loans

The main purpose of life insurance is obviously the death benefit. But a form of life insurance called “permanent” life insurance also offers benefits while you’re alive. One of those benefits is the accumulation of a “cash value” that can be borrowed against.

If you already have permanent life insurance, this may be an option for financing bariatric surgery. If you don’t, it will probably take years to accumulate enough cash value to pay for the surgery so this may not be an option for you (click here to jump to the next financing bariatric surgery option if you don’t already have permanent life or are not willing to wait to have surgery).

Here’s how it works…

  • You choose the level of monthly premiums that you are going to pay for the permanent life insurance. At the lowest payment option, there is no cash value accumulation – you’re only paying for “term life,” which only has a death benefit.
  • The higher your premium, the more quickly the cash value will build up. The intricacies of permanent life are beyond the scope of this article, but it is worth noting that it takes some time for the cash value to accumulate. In addition, the cash value does not build at a “1 to 1” rate.

    In other words, if the “term life” premium is $75 per month and the “permanent life” premium is $125, you will not have $50 ($125 – $75) in cash value after the first payment – you’ll have much less. But over time the cash value catches up and surpasses your additional premiums and eventually becomes large enough that it can cover your term life payments for the rest of your life (that is, if you didn’t take the cash value out to pay for surgery or anything else).
  • Once you have accumulated cash value, you can take a loan out up to the amount of the cash value.
  • The loan has to be paid back to your account with interest.

It is important to know that if you pass away while the loan is outstanding, the amount due will be deducted from the death benefit. This could leave your loved ones in a tight spot.

There are also several other issues that arise should you default on the loan, so discuss this option with a good financial planner, insurance broker or life insurance representative before proceeding.

VOTE for this financing option to help others with their decision

6.  Brokers, Direct Lenders & Credit Cards (Unsecured Loans)

Importance of Credit

Your credit report and score will affect both the types of loans available to you and the rate you are charged. Learning what your credit score is before applying for a loan and which factors (if any) are bringing down your score can help you figure out:

  • How likely you are to get approved
  • How competitive your rate is likely to be
  • Whether any items on your credit report are inaccurate or could be removed to improve your score

Unlike secured loans, unsecured loans allow you to borrow money without putting up any collateral. The trade off comes in the form of an interest rate that you pay back to the bank over the term of your loan.

There are three ways to obtain an unsecured medical loan, including:

  • Brokers, who work with multiple lenders on your behalf
  • Lenders (directly)
  • Credit cards (typically the most expensive kind of unsecured loan)

See our Unsecured Medical Loans page for a complete analysis, including comparisons of your broker and lender options.

VOTE for this financing Bariatric Surgery option to help others with their decision

7.  Medical Travel: A worthy consideration for financing bariatric surgery

Before we dive into medical travel (inaccurately referred to as "medical tourism"; top-notch medical care should be the focus, NOT tourism), there are a few questions you should consider.

If it meant saving a lot of money and receiving top-notch medical care…

  • Would you be open to getting on a plane to have surgery out of your area?
  • Do you have someone close to you that would be willing to go with you?
  • If your own research proved to you that it is completely safe and effective, would you still be comfortable doing something if your local primary care or bariatric doctors advised against it?

We’re not suggesting that your doctor’s advice isn’t good.  Getting treatment out of the area certainly adds a level of complexity to their jobs by forcing them to interact with doctors they don’t know.  And your doctor may genuinely be uncomfortable recommending care in a place they are unfamiliar with.

But many U.S. doctors, especially bariatric surgeons, are not excited about this “new angle” of competition regardless of how safe, effective or inexpensive it is. Remember, in addition to being doctors, they’re also trying to run a profitable business.  Would you be excited about referring your customers to competition that provides the same service for as low as 1/4 the cost?

If you answered yes to all of the above, the cost savings alone – which could be up to $20,000 or more – may warrant your review of this increasingly viable option for financing bariatric surgery.

United States Residents, Mexico Is Your Best Bet

Since it’s so close, Mexico is by far the easiest place to have surgery abroad for U.S. residents. To learn more about how much you may be able to save by having treatment abroad, click here to contact a reputable surgeon in Mexico.

After getting an initial understanding of the costs, click here to learn more about surgery abroad (page includes weight loss surgery Mexico). 

VOTE for this financing Bariatric Surgery option to help others with their decision
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Review
Apply the Research to Your Situationplus_sign

Review: Apply the Research to Your Situation

Now that you have a solid overview of all of your options, click the following links to jump back up the page to get started with the options that best fit your situation. Remember, it can be possible to combine multiple approaches.

  1. Find out what your local qualified surgeon is willing to offer
  2. Friends & Family
  3. Secured Loan
  4. Retirement Plan
  5. Permanent Life Insurance
  6. Brokers, Direct Lenders and Credit Cards (Unsecured Loans)
  7. Find out how much it would cost to receive treatment abroad (also called Medical Tourism – on a separate page) 
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Help & Support
Patient Experiences, Ask the Expertplus_sign

Help & Support: Patient Experiences, Ask the Expert

Your bariatric surgery financing advice will help other patients figure out how to afford their life-changing surgery (click here to review contributions from other visitors).

Please include any information that you think applies, such as…

– Which procedure did you have?

– Where did you receive surgery (clinic/surgeon, city, state/province, country)?

– How much did it cost?

– How much, if any, did insurance pay?

– How did you pay for your (non-insurance) portion of the costs?

– What were the terms of your financing?

– Did you negotiate, or were the terms set in stone?

– Did you have any problems?

– Any key advice?

Close Help

Entering your advice and experiences is easy to do. Just type!…

Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Here’s a list of the types of financing for your title…please include all that apply in your title:

– Insurance
– BLIS
– Surgeon financing
– Friends & family
– Secured loan
– Retirement plan loan
– Permanent life insurance plan loan
– Broker
– Direct lender (i.e. company that specializes in medical financing)
– Credit cards (i.e. ‘regular’ credit cards)
– Your savings

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It could be anything related to your story, such as the logo of the company you worked with, a picture of your broker, your before/after photo, your surgeon, your family or friends, etc.

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Talk to a Top Bariatric Practice About Your Financing Options

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TOOLS
FIND A SURGEON
DO YOU QUALIFY?
CHECK MY INSURANCE
WEIGHT LOSS ESTIMATOR
COST COMPARE
Apply for Loan (Ad)
Tax
Write-Offs
RECOVERY TIMELINES
PROCEDURE SUMMARIES
COMPARE PROCEDURES
Best Procedure Quiz
HEALTH BENEFITS

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Do You Qualify for a Bariatric Procedure?

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Do You Qualify for a Bariatric Procedure?

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Do You Qualify for a Bariatric Procedure?

Patients who qualify for bariatric surgery usually:

  • Are at least 80 lbs (36 kg) overweight
  • Are between 18 and 75 years old
  • Have a history of failed weight loss attempts (e.g., failed diets)
  • Thoroughly understand that the procedure is just a tool; long-term success requires significant diet and lifestyle changes

The minimum bariatric surgery qualifications include:

  • A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more
  • OR a BMI between 30 and 39.9 with a serious obesity-related health problem like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint problems, or others
  • OR a BMI of 30 to 40 with or without health issues for the gastric balloon procedure

To calculate your BMI, enter your height and weight into the tool, then click the “Calculate BMI” button.

Click here to learn more
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Check My Insurance Tool

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Check My Insurance Tool

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Check My Insurance Tool

Bariatric surgery insurance coverage varies by insurance policy:

Individual/Family Plans & Small Group Plans – Coverage varies by state; coverage is required by the Affordable Care Act in some states

Large Group Plans – Coverage depends on whether your employer has chosen to add it to your policy

Medicare and Medicaid – Bariatric surgery is covered

If your policy covers it and you meet the qualification requirements, your plan will likely include 4 procedures:

  • Gastric sleeve
  • Gastric bypass
  • LAP-BAND®
  • Duodenal switch

Your surgeon may be able to get partial coverage for the other procedures.

Use the tool to find out if your insurance covers bariatric surgery.

Click here to learn more
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Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Estimator Tool

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Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Estimator Tool

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Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Calculator

You will start losing weight fast after any bariatric surgery procedure, but the total amount lost varies based on:

  • The procedure you choose
  • How closely you follow your doctor’s instructions

Enter your information into the tool to get an idea about how much weight you’ll lose after each procedure.

Click here to learn more

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Bariatric Procedure Cost Compare Tool

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Bariatric Procedure Cost Compare Tool

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Bariatric Procedure Cost Compare Tool

Your out-of-pocket bariatric surgery cost can range anywhere from $0 to $20,000 or more depending on several factors, including:

Whether your insurance covers it – many insurances (including Medicare, Medicaid, and many individual/family and employer-provided policies) cover the majority of costs for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND®, and duodenal switch. The other types of bariatric surgery are less likely to be covered, although you may be able to get insurance to pay for some of the costs. Tap the “With Insurance” button in the tool to see average out-of-pocket costs per procedure after insurance pays. See our Insurance Tool to find out if your plan covers it.

Which procedure you choose – if insurance won’t pay, costs range anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000+, depending on the procedure. Tap the “Without Insurance” button in the tool to compare the national average self-pay costs for each procedure. (NOTE: Some surgeons offer each procedure for as low as half of the national average).

How competitive your surgeon and hospital fees are – there is often a substantial difference in costs between different doctors and hospitals, even within the same town.

Whether you qualify for tax write-offs – Bariatric surgery is tax deductible, which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. You can deduct medical expenses if your out-of-pocket costs are more than 10% of your adjusted gross income. See our Tax Tool to find out if your bariatric procedure will be tax deductible.

How you choose to pay for your procedure – If insurance covers it, you’ll only be responsible for any copays, deductibles, and coinsurance required by your specific plan. If you pay for the procedure without insurance, total costs will depend on how you pay. For example, your surgeon may offer a discount if you pay the full amount up front, and you can make the costs more affordable by applying for bariatric surgery financing.

Click here to learn more
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LOAN ESTIMATOR TOOL

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LOAN ESTIMATOR TOOL

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Bariatric Surgery Tax Write-Off Calculator

Weight loss surgery is tax deductible, which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. You can deduct medical expenses if the costs are more than 10% of your adjusted gross income.

Use the tool to find out if you qualify for a tax deduction.

To receive the deductions, you’ll need to complete Schedule A of the IRS Form 1040. You’ll also need to save your medical bills and payment statements as proof. Money in one of the following special savings accounts (or even your IRA) may also be a way to pay for part of surgery tax-free:

  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Archer Medical Savings Account (Archer MSA)
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Click here to learn more
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Bariatric Surgery Tax Write-Off Tool

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Bariatric Surgery Tax Write-Off Tool

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Bariatric Surgery Tax Write-Off Calculator

Weight loss surgery is tax deductible, which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. You can deduct medical expenses if the costs are more than 10% of your adjusted gross income.

Use the tool to find out if you qualify for a tax deduction

To receive the deductions, you’ll need to complete Schedule A of the IRS Form 1040. You’ll also need to save your medical bills and payment statements as proof.

Money in one of the following special savings accounts (or even your IRA) may also be a way to pay for part of surgery tax-free:

  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Archer Medical Savings Account (Archer MSA)
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
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Bariatric Surgery Recovery Timeline Tool

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Bariatric Surgery Recovery Timeline Tool

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Bariatric Surgery Recovery Timeline Tool

Bariatric surgery recovery varies by procedure. Here are the ranges:

  • Timeline Range: from 3 days to 6 weeks to full recovery
    • Hospital Stay: from outpatient (return home same-day) to 3 days
    • Back to Work: from 3 days to 3 weeks
  • Pain Range: from mild discomfort to manageable with medication
  • Diet Range: from no restrictions to slow transition from clear liquids to solid foods
  • Activity Range: from no restrictions to slow transition back to regular activity and exercise

Use the tool to learn more about each stage of recovery.

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Bariatric Procedure Summaries

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Below is a brief explanation of how each bariatric surgery procedure works. Tap the icons for more information.

Bariatric Procedure Summaries

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Below is a brief explanation of how each bariatric surgery procedure works. Tap the icons for more information.

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Bariatric Procedure Comparison Tool

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Bariatric Procedure Comparison Tool

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Bariatric Procedure Comparison Tool

There are 6 types of bariatric surgery (also called “weight loss surgery”) available, including:

  • Gastric Sleeve – feel less hungry & full sooner while eating
  • Gastric Bypass – feel full sooner while eating & absorb fewer minerals
  • Duodenal Switch – feel less hungry & full sooner while eating, absorb fewer calories and minerals
  • LAP-BAND® – feel full sooner while eating
  • Gastric Balloon – temporarily feel full sooner while eating (balloon removed after 6 months)
  • AspireAssist – drain a portion of stomach contents after eating

Use the tool to compare each procedure.

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Bariatric Surgery Quiz: Learn Your Top 2 Procedures

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Bariatric Surgery Quiz: Learn Your Top 2 Procedures

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Bariatric Surgery Quiz: Learn Your Top 2 Procedures

The best weight loss surgery options for you depend on:

  • How much weight you want to lose
  • Your current age, weight, health issues, habits, and lifestyle
  • Your expectations for life after surgery
  • Whether you want a reversible procedure
  • What “trade-offs” you are willing to make

Take the quiz to find out which two procedures are best for you and why.

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Bariatric Surgery Health Benefits Tool (Gastric Sleeve)

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Bariatric Surgery Health Benefits Tool (Gastric Sleeve)

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Bariatric Surgery Health Benefits Tool

Bariatric surgery “cures” or significantly improves many obesity-related health conditions, including:

  • Diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Hypertension
  • Joint issues
  • … and many others

Select your health conditions in the tool, then click the Submit button to find out the impact a procedure like gastric sleeve can have.

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References

  1. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Ambulatory Surgeries in U.S. Hospitals, 2003.  Available at:http://www.ahrq.gov/data/hcup/factbk9/factbk9fig18.htm. Accessed: September 28, 2009.
  2. Socioeconomic disparities in eligibility and access to bariatric surgery: a national population-based analysis. Matthew Martin, Alec Beekley, Randy Kjorstad, James Sebesta Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases – 21 July 2009 (10.1016/j.soard.2009.07.003)
  3. Selden TM. The effect of tax subsidies on high health care expenditure burdens in the United States. Int J Health Care Finance Econ. 2008 Sep;8(3):209-23. Epub 2008 Jun 29. PubMed PMID: 18587643.
  4. Cremieux, P, et al.  A Study on the Economic Impact of Bariatric Surgery. September 2008. Available at: http://www.ajmc.com/issue/managed-care/2008/2008-09-vol14-n9/Sep08-3582p589-596. Accessed: September 24, 2009.
* Disclaimers: Content: The information contained in this website is provided for general information purposes and your specific results may vary depending on a variety of circumstances. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified medical, dietary, fitness or other appropriate professional. Advertising: Bariatric Surgery Source, LLC has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain medical practices, original equipment manufacturers, and financial companies under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partners and/or submit information. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Read More

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