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Anybody who is contemplating lap band surgery will probably have a list of questions and towards the top of that list is going to be the question of price. Sadly, though this might seem like an easy question, it is not all that simple to answer.
The price of having lap band weight loss surgery will depend upon a lot of different factors but the first thing you need to do is determine whether you qualify for surgery. Making up your mind that you need lap band surgery is all well and good but when it comes to paying for surgery whether or not you meet the requirements of the National Institutes of Health (NHI) is a crucial factor.
As a rule, if you have a BMI of 40 or more you will meet the NIH requirements. You can also qualify if your BMI is between 35 and 39 providing you also have a serious medical condition which is associated with your weight. The list of associated medical conditions is long but will include things like diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
If you do not meet the NHI requirements then you will have to meet the full cost of lap band surgery yourself.
The next thing that you must determine is whether your health insurance plan will pay for some or all of the cost of your surgery. It is generally believed that insurers will not pay for weight loss surgery but this is not so and insurers are increasingly funding either some or all of the cost of lap band surgery. However, your health insurer will only fund the cost if you meet the requirements of the NIH and your doctor certifies that your surgery is a medical necessity.
Okay, so what is lap band surgery going to cost?
The price of lap band surgery is complicated as you have to factor in not merely the price of surgery itself but all of the associated costs which will vary widely according to where your surgery is performed and by whom. Costs will have to include things like pre-surgical tests, surgeon's fees and hospital fees. In addition, there will be a variety of post-surgery fees for services such as follow-up medical visits, nutritional counseling and psychological support.
When surgery is done in the US then you could reasonably expect it to cost anywhere between $17,000 and $30,000 for your surgery and post-surgical care providing you do not encounter any complications. Though major complications are not common they do crop up every now and again and costs may then increase considerably.
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