Bariatric Surgery Cost

Please check with your health insurance provider to ensure that you are eligible. Item numbers for the main Bariatric Surgery procedures are:

• Sleeve Gastrectomy – 31575
• Gastric Bypass – 31572
• Gastric Band – 31569

Insured patients have a choice regarding what treatment they receive, who treats them, and how long they have to wait until they are admitted to hospital for treatment. Health insurance covers the cost of hospital admission and all of the items used during the hospital stay. Your procedure will be billed directly to the health fund and Medicare for the surgery, on your behalf.

Bariatric surgery patients are charged a Clinic Fee – this is an ‘out of pocket’ cost which is not claimable via health funds or Medicare. The clinic fee contributes towards the expenses of running our multidisciplinary clinic to help manage your health and obesity as a chronic disease, allowing us to provide follow-up care for the year after surgery.

Uninsured patients will have to cover all of the costs associated with their hospital admission. It is generally impossible to determine an exact figure for the total cost of surgery – unforeseen events for example additional necessary treatment will incur further costs. Hospital fees cover theatre costs, theatre equipment hire, bed costs, or admission to ICU (if required). Hospitals in NSW will provide quotes to patients before admission, and expect an up-front payment on or before the day of admission for the quoted amount.

Bariatric surgery patients are charged a Clinic Fee – this is an ‘out of pocket’ cost which is not claimable via Medicare. The clinic fee contributes towards the expenses of running our multidisciplinary clinic to help manage your health and obesity as a chronic disease, allowing us to provide follow-up care for the year after surgery.

Ways to Pay for Bariatric Surgery

We try to make bariatric surgery as streamlined and accessible as possible for our patients and offer multiple ways to complete payment ahead of their planned surgery date. Here are some payment options to consider:

Payment Plans

Upper GI Surgery offers payment plans for our patients. Patients can pay any amount as often as they wish before their surgery date (using credit card, debit card or bank transfer) provided the total amount due is paid in full one week before surgery.

Superannuation ‘Early Access’

Depending on your own personal circumstances, we can assist you in accessing early release of super for surgery by providing a letter by your Surgeon. Accessing your Super Fund for surgery usually takes 2-4 weeks and these claims are made yourself through the ATO.

Layby Surgery

We offer our patients the option of Layby Surgery which allows our patients to budget, plan and pay ahead for their procedure. For more information about paying for bariatric surgery using Layby Surgery click here.