For people suffering from obesity and related health issues, medical weight loss may be a beacon of hope in what seems to be a sea of diet plans, pills, and exercise regimens. Having help from doctors and specialists can certainly assist in reaching a healthy weight and learning all the essential habits and techniques needed to maintain it. One thing that frequently stands in the way is cost.
The reasons for Medical weight loss can range from people who are facing obesity, and related health issues as well as programs for people who aren’t so heavy and are looking to achieve a more lean physique without cellulite.
With the wide range of medical weight loss programs and procedures available today, the costs can vary widely. Explore some of the options listed below to find out which option will work best for you without breaking your budget. Also remember that health insurance may cover some of the high cost of these avenues toward health and longevity.
Medical Weight Loss Program Costs
The least expensive weight loss plans are not directly medically supervised at all. These include things like Weight Watchers and Slim Fast and can cost a few hundred dollars a year. Once you get into the realm of medical weight loss, prices usually go up. Medically supervised outpatient programs can cost several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. The drastic difference in price range has to do with many factors including insurance coverage.
Medical weight loss facilities where you live at for a few weeks at a time have costs that cover your room, therapy and meetings with a nutritionist, and all meals and snacks. These can cost as low as about $2000 a week and can go up considerably higher.
Medical Weight Loss Procedure Costs
Weight loss surgery is becoming increasingly popular as a medically approved weight loss option. Here too you have a wide diversity of costs due to the different surgical procedures and what insurance covers. Some people can have, for example, a gastric bypass procedure and not have to pay anything because it is covered by their insurance. Other people must pay the entire bill themselves.
In the United States, the average cost of weight loss surgeries $23,000. The less invasive lap band or sleeve procedures can cost about $15,000. If there are any complications or additional care is needed, these base costs can go up considerably.
When considering medical weight loss programs or procedures, the health benefits of each should be in the forefront of your mind. Everyone knows that losing weight is healthy and can greatly reduce the risk of developing life-threatening diseases and disorders. Some people do exceptionally well in a medically-supervised outpatient or inpatient nutritional and fitness program. Other people require bariatric surgery to succeed in their weight loss goals.
No matter what path you choose, preparing your budget to handle the expense can be a lengthy process. Always check with your insurance provider to see if any or all of the cost is covered. For those without coverage for weight loss assistance, the decision usually comes down to what you can afford. Weight loss is big business in the United States and help is often expensive. If you want to have medical weight loss, at least the possibility of insurance help exists.