Paying For Surgery

Advanced Surgical Associates offers various methods of payment for weight loss procedures. Generally patients can choose from three options: insurance, third-party financing, and cash/self-pay.

Paying For Surgery through Insurance

ASA accepts a wide range of private insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid options for those who qualify. Though our program has a set of qualification criteria, insurance companies will require additional documentation for coverage. While each insurance company has a unique set of criteria, patients may need to provide the following documentation as proof that they qualify for surgical intervention for obesity. This is a general guide to what may be expected, however please contact your insurance company to determine their exact requirements.

  1. Patients must have a BMI of 35 or over with an obesity-related disease or a BMI of 40 or over
  2. A letter of medical necessity from both your primary physician and our office. You can download a sample letter by clicking on the following link: Sample Letter of Medical Necessity
  3. Provide a food and exercise journal detailing past attempts at non-surgical
  4. Provide evidence of one or more obesity-related diseases, including type II diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sleep apnea
  5. Enrollment in a medically-supervised diet program for three to six months

Medicare and Medicaid do not offer pre-approval for surgery. They also may have additional requirements. If you intend to finance your procedure through one of these public providers, please ensure that all of their qualifying criteria have been met before surgery. You may also be asked to sign a letter of financial responsibility in case of denial.

Financing Weight Loss Surgery

For those patients who do not have sufficient insurance coverage or who do not have the means or willingness to self-pay, there are many financing options for surgical weight loss. Generally each of the procedures we offer can be financed, however it should be noted that every financing company will have a different plan that may carry significant interest expenses. Financing plans may also require collateral assets to be pledged as a promise to pay.

  1. Medical financing companies like CareCredit and BlisPay offer tailored programs to those undergoing bariatric surgery. These plans often include low or no interest programs that require a certain personal credit level to qualify.
  2. Some patients will opt to use credit cards to pay for their procedure. It is important to note that this option tends to have the uncertainty of variable interest rates. Those wishing to finance their procedure long term should be aware of the risks of possible increases in their credit card’s interest rate.
  3. Home equity or fixed home loan. This type of financing uses the equity in your home to back-up your promise to ay the lender. Bear in mind that in case of default, the lender may be able to take possession of your home or other pledged assets if payments are not made.

As with any financial decision, it is important to weight your options very carefully. Understanding the risks and benefits or seeking qualified financial advice will help you make the right decision.

Cash or Self Pay

Many patients with the means to pay for their operation in cash do so in order to enjoy the flexibility of not having to worry about insurance company criteria or qualifying for credit. Self-pay patients must bear in mind that they still must qualify for surgical intervention under our strict guidelines. Not only must our patients qualify under NIH guidelines but they must also be suitable candidates for surgery. Test prior to surgery will determine eligibility.

Self pay patients will have an opportunity to bundle the costs of their care by speaking to their surgeon and surgical facility. In some cases, the cost of surgery may be lower as a result.