Best Ways to Finance Weight Loss Surgery Costs
It’s tough to face the financial barriers that come along with weight loss surgery costs, especially when it’s something you want to address, for health concerns or personal reasons. About 3.6m people in England are eligible for weight-loss surgery, but the latest figures show that just 6,627 people had this surgery in 2017-18. Fortunately, if you need help paying for bariatric surgery, financial resources are available so you can take this vital step toward a healthier future without worrying about expenses.
Can you get weight loss surgery on the NHS?
Weight loss surgery is available to pay for privately, but it is also possible to get this surgery on the NHS.
Provided you meet certain criteria, you could be eligible for this. The criteria can tend to vary though, depending on each person.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on obesity recommend that surgery should be provided on the NHS if you meet all of the following criteria:
- you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI between 35 and 40 and a serious condition that might improve if you lost weight (such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure)
- you’ve tried all other weight loss methods, such as dieting and exercise, but have struggled to lose weight or keep it off
- you agree to long-term follow-up after surgery – such as making healthy lifestyle changes and attending regular check-ups
- you’re fit and healthy enough to have surgery under general anaesthetic (where you’re asleep)
- you’ve been receiving or will receive treatment from a specialist obesity team
It’s always best to visit your GP and get advice about what options are available to you and what is best for your personal circumstances.
How much does weight loss surgery cost if you go private?
If you’re researching how to afford weight loss surgery, health insurance coverage is probably one of the first questions on your mind. So, does insurance cover weight loss surgery? It depends on the circumstances. Yet even with coverage, you may end up paying some out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Some private practitioners also may have eligibility criteria for weight loss surgery. They may want patients to have a certain BMI.
Gastric bypass surgery costs without insurance can range considerably, depending on the type of procedure you choose.
The cost of private weight loss surgery can vary.
Typical prices are:
- gastric band surgery – £4,000 to £8,000
- gastric bypass – £8,000 to £15,000
- sleeve gastrectomy – £8,000 to £10,000
3 ways to get help paying for bariatric surgery
While bariatric surgery costs can be high, thousands of people in the UK find ways to cover costs every year. Here are three free resources you can use to get help paying for bariatric surgery without insurance:
1. Weight loss surgery on the NHS
As mentioned, it is possible to get weight loss surgery on the NHS if you are eligible.
In the UK, your criteria and eligibility for such surgery is not based on income, where you live or other external factors.
Your case for getting weight loss surgery on the NHS is entirely based on your health and wellbeing.
In such cases, your GP will consider things like your diet, exercise routine and lifestyle.
2. Online fundraising for bariatric surgery costs
Figuring out how to pay for weight loss surgery without insurance can be stressful. By crowdfunding on GoFundMe, you can fund your procedure in a safe space with friends and family while helping reduce the stigma around bariatric surgery for others who need it. Along with dedicated customer support and the security of the GoFundMe Guarantee, you can access your funds within 2-5 business days in most cases.
3. Private medical insurance
If you have private medical insurance, you can also use this to fund your weight loss surgery.
It can help to manage the costs of the procedure and going privately could, potentially, speed up the process of organising the weight loss surgery.
Tips for creating a successful weight loss surgery fundraiser
If you’re wondering how to afford weight loss surgery, follow these top medical fundraising tips so you can raise the money you need when you need it most:
- Connect with your donors by telling your campaign story. Share your challenges, and be open and honest with donors about how funds will help impact your life.
- Share your fundraiser on social media, from Tiktok to Instagram, and ask your friends and family to share your GoFundMe link on their own accounts.
- Reach out to your personal network offline for fundraising without social media, through Whatsapp, email, and talking in person to connect with donors more meaningfully.
GoFundMe success stories for weight loss surgery
Asking for help to pay for expensive medical treatments isn’t always easy, but you may be surprised by how many friends and family members are willing to step up and lend a hand. Weight loss surgery could save your life, and those who care about you will be more than happy to contribute. See how others are using the power of crowdfunding to reach their weight loss goals:
Paul’s weight loss surgery
Paul struggled with his weight from as early as five years old. As an adult, he decided he had to make a change when he weighed over 500 pounds and became very ill. To pay for weight loss surgery expenses not covered by his insurance company, Paul turned to his community of friends and family. He met his goal of close to £2,000 and was able to do his life-changing surgery.
Stephanie’s weight loss surgery
Stephanie turned to weight loss surgery as a long-term solution to help her live a healthier life. She started a fundraiser to help her cover the surgery price and raised over £3,200 to put toward gastric band surgery, thanks to supportive friends and family members. One year later, Stephanie is down almost 100 pounds.
Find weight loss surgery financial help today
No matter your reasons for considering a procedure, there are many resources for how to pay for weight loss surgery without insurance. Countless individuals have used GoFundMe for medical fundraising to help cover costs—because the investment in your health and quality of life is well worth it. Tap into the power of medical crowdfunding and start your fundraiser and raise money to cover your weight loss surgery cost.