Costs and Payment Options of Lap Band Surgery

 Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, commonly referred to as lap band surgery, is a weight loss procedure that involves surgically placing an inflatable silicon device around the top portion of the stomach in an effort to combat obesity. The lap band makes it difficult to eat more than a small portion of food at a time.

The lap band, although still a surgical procedure, is a less severe and permanent option to other gastric bypass procedures. The advantages of weight loss the lap band surgery offers is extensive. Obesity leads to a laundry list of health complications including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and joint pain.

Once a doctor has agreed that a lap band surgery is a good option for you, the main obstacle becomes how to pay for the procedure. In the United States, a lap band procedure can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $30,000 depending on location and doctor.

Below are several options to consider:

1) Insurance. Because obesity causes so many other health conditions, many insurance providers are now covering the costs of lap band surgery. Likely, you will need a doctor’s recommendation that the surgery is needed before the insurance provider will approve the procedure.
2) Financing. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance won’t cover the lap band procedure, many health care providers offer financing allowing you to spread the costs out over several months or years.
3) Credit cards. This option allows for a quick approval to have the surgery as soon as possible. Credit cards often have more lenient credit requirements for approval than loans or financing. Downside is the interest rates are often higher than other payment options.
4) Loans. There are many loan providers that offer the types of loans used to cover procedures like lap band surgery.