About BariatricCostGuide

✓ Reviewed by Dr. Michael Torres, MD, FACS · Bariatric Surgeon ✓ Sources: ASMBS, CDC, CMS, NCQA ✓ Updated 2025–2026

Why We Built This Site

42.4% of U.S. adults have obesity, according to CDC data. Bariatric surgery — the most effective long-term treatment — costs $15,000 to $35,000. Yet when patients call their surgeon’s office or insurance company, they almost never get a straight answer on what they’ll actually pay.

We built BariatricCostGuide to change that. Every guide on this site translates complex billing data into plain English: what procedures cost, how insurance decides what to cover, and what patients can realistically expect to pay out of pocket.

Our Team

Lead Writer: Marcus Reid Marcus has spent 10 years covering health finance and medical billing. He holds an MBA in Health Administration and has written for several national health publications. He personally verifies every cost figure against published data before publishing.

Medical Reviewer: Dr. Michael Torres, MD, FACS Dr. Torres is a board-certified bariatric surgeon with 15 years of clinical experience. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and reviews all clinical claims on this site for accuracy. Dr. Torres has no financial relationships with any bariatric surgery facilities, device manufacturers, or pharmaceutical companies. His review is independent.

Our Methodology

We source costs from:

  • ASMBS annual membership surveys — procedure volume and average cost data
  • CMS procedure pricing — Medicare allowed amounts for bariatric CPT codes
  • Hospital price transparency files — required public disclosures under CMS rules
  • Insurance EOB documents — submitted by readers and verified by our team
  • Peer-reviewed literature — JAMA, NEJM, Obesity Surgery journal for clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness data

We update guides whenever source data changes significantly. All guides display a “last updated” date.

What We’re Not

BariatricCostGuide is not a medical practice. We cannot recommend specific surgeons, evaluate whether you’re a candidate for surgery, or advise you on medical decisions. For that, you need a board-certified bariatric surgeon.

We are also not an insurance broker or financial advisor. For questions about your specific coverage, call the member services number on your insurance card.

How We Fund the Site

This site is funded entirely through Google AdSense display advertising. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored content, or affiliate commissions from surgeons, hospitals, or device manufacturers. Our cost data is not influenced by any commercial relationships.

Contact

Disclaimer: BariatricCostGuide provides cost data for educational purposes only. We are not a medical provider, insurance company, or financial advisor. All costs are estimates based on published data and vary by location, facility, surgeon, insurance plan, and individual health factors. Consult a board-certified bariatric surgeon and your insurance carrier for personalized medical and cost advice.