Costs and Finance

Cost With Private Health Insurance:

In most cases the Hospital and Theatre costs (including purchase of a LAGB) will be covered by your health fund if you have been a member for more than one year. However you must also make sure that your health fund will cover bariatric surgery for your level of policy. The Item number they will request for sleeve is 31575.

The assessment program and surgeon’s fees at Mercy Bariatrics depends on which procedure you choose and ranges between $4500 – $6000. This also includes initial aftercare and our Success Habits training module. Your health fund and medicare will only cover a portion of this (about $1400).

There will also be an out of pocket expense for the Anaesthetist  ($750-$1500) and Surgical Assistant ($800). Full payment, to cover these fees are  required prior to all surgery.

The total out of pocket expenses are typically between $5800 – $6800 depending on your procedure, insurance company and policy.

The out of pocket costs for this surgery are significant, and there are several payment options available to you. There are companies who provide credit for surgical procedures, and accessing your superannuation is another alternative. Our business manager will be very happy to answer any queries you have regarding these options.

If you decide to proceed, we will provide you with an individualised and complete estimate for the surgical fee and bariatric program.

Cost Without Private Health Insurance (uninsured):

The total cost of the procedure is usually in excess of $20,000, and it may be even more if a complication was to develop which required a prolonged hospital stay. If uninsured, full payment is required prior to surgery. Many patients are accessing their superannuation to cover this and in selected circumstance the surgery may even be accepted as part of a workers compensation claim.

Public Patients:

Public patient waiting time for elective bariatric surgery in Perth can be quite long. It could be a few years from first consult to getting on a wait list and then surgery. One option is to take out private insurance, wait a year and then you will be ready to have your surgery as per the private health insurance option above. Another option is to consider using your superannuation.