Gastric Bypass Surgery Costs

... And Savings!

I know we have spoken about the costs of gastric bypass and other types of weight loss surgery before but I think you will find this information very interesting, I did. Here we talk more about the savings

According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, the cost of the procedure is usually madeup by lowered medical costs to insurers and patients within a few years.

"Research shows the cost is amortized in 3 ½ years," said the society's executive director, Georgeann Mallory.

3 ½ years, that's pretty quick!

They say only 3 ½ years for these reasons:

• Fewer doctor visits
• Reduced prescription drug costs for
  • high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol and
  • diabete

The Journal of the American Medical Association conducted a research study and found the surgery reversed diabetes in 77% of patients, lowered cholesterol in 70% and fixed high blood pressure in 62%.

That's quite amazing, don't you think? My doc has been at me for years about my blood pressure. I don't have diabetes but he says it's only a matter of time.

A Possible Downside of Weight Loss Surgery

Another study, however, found that these same patients are twice as likely to be hospitalized after the procedure than they were in the three years before it. That could negate any savings made, so try to be in your best shape before the surgery and do everything the doctor tells you after the procedure.

Surgeons are expected to perform more than 177,000 procedures in 2006, that's 3 times what was done in 2001.

A Massive Saving

The biggest saving comes from life insurance.

A 45-year-old male who goes from 300 pounds to 200 pounds with weight loss surgery and keeps the weight off for at least two years could expect to pay $1,170 a year for a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy instead or $2,290 without any weight loss.

That's a massive $22,400 over the life of the policy. Add that to the reduced medical costs over the same period and it's a lot of money.

If you are one of the lucky one covered by Medicare, you go into savings mode almost immediately!

Considers these facts in your decision making process, I know I will.

Julian

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