Medicare.gov

Bariatric surgery

Medicare covers some bariatric surgical procedures (like gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic banding surgery) if you’re eligible

  • Covered by Part B

Description

Bariatric surgery may help people with extreme obesity lose weight. Medicare doesn't cover your transportation costs to get to a bariatric surgery center.

Who's eligible

You’re eligible if you meet certain conditions related to morbid obesity.

Costs

For surgeries or procedures, it's hard to predict your costs in advance. This is because you won’t know what services you need until you meet with your provider. If you need weight loss surgery or a procedure, you may be able to estimate how much you'll have to pay. You can:

  • Ask the doctor, hospital, or facility how much you'll have to pay for the surgery and any care afterward.
  • If you're an outpatient, you may have a choice between an ambulatory surgical center and a hospital outpatient department.
  • Find out if you're an inpatient or outpatient because what you pay may be different.
  • Check with any other insurance you may have to see what it will pay. If you belong to a Medicare health plan , contact your plan for more information. Other insurance might include:
    • Coverage from your or your spouse's employer
    • Medicaid
    • Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy

Log into (or create) your secure Medicare account, or look at your last "Medicare Summary Notice" (MSN)" to see if you've met your deductibles.

  • Check your Part A   deductible if you expect to be admitted to the hospital.
  • Check your Part B deductible for a doctor's visit and other outpatient care.
  • You'll need to pay the deductible amounts before Medicare will start to pay. After Medicare starts to pay, you may have copayments for the care you get.

Ask your doctor or healthcare provider how much your test, item, or service will cost.

Your doctor may recommend services that Medicare does not cover or offers too frequently. This could end up in additional costs for you. Make sure to ask your doctor about the reasons for these recommendations and what Medicare will actually cover.

Specific amounts you could owe depend on:

  • Other insurance you may have

  • How much your doctor charges

  • If your doctor accepts assignment

  • The type of facility

  • Where you get your test, item, or service

Other related information

Find a provider

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