How much does a gastric band cost?

A surgical procedure to aid weight loss by placing a band around the stomach to reduce its size.

Hospital cover

Procedure costs

Specialists & hospitals

Preparing for hospital

Planning your recovery

A gastric band procedure costs approximately: $4,304 - $6,023

These are approximate costs~ based on claims data by Medibank members with eligible+ hospital cover for a hospital admission at a Medibank Members' Choice Hospitals. They don’t include doctors’ fees and outpatient appointments where you aren’t admitted into hospital.

Out-of-pocket costs vary based on your cover, your specialists' fees and the hospital.

The chart below shows how costs are typically split between Medibank, Medicare and your out-of-pocket costs:

* Excess is based on your policy and varies from $0 - {{excess_max_cost}}. Some policies may have a Per-Day Payment arrangement. Medibank members can check their cover inclusions in their Cover Summary in My Medibank or call 132 331 to discuss their cover.

^ This represents the median amount for medical and hospital out-of-pocket costs. For 95% of eligible+ members out-of-pocket costs for this procedure typically did not exceed

$0.

^~This graph was compiled using the median figure for Medibank cost, Medicare cost, Excess, and out-of-pocket costs based on data for eligible⁺ members.

⁺ The above costs for a gastric band reflect MBS item number 31587, 31590, 31569. Medibank pays benefits towards in-hospital medical services based on the MBS.

For Medibank to pay benefits towards this procedure, your hospital cover must include Weight Loss Surgery as an Included or Restricted service. For Included services, we pay benefits towards the treatment, but you may still have some out-of-pocket costs. For Restricted services, we pay the minimum amount set by the government, which can mean higher out-of-pocket costs. You must also have served the relevant waiting period(s). Ask your specialist for the MBS item numbers that apply for your treatment. 

Important information

This is not a quote and should be used as a guide only. The graph above shows a median view of costs for procedures (according to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers, Adjacent Diagnostic Related Groups(DRGs) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD)) undertaken by Medibank members with eligible hospital cover for a hospital admission at a Medibank Members' Choice hospital, who have served the relevant waiting period claims, data received electronically (between 1/07/2023 and 30/6/2024) for Australian residents.

Typical procedure cost is based on the middle half of claims data.

We recommend you contact us prior to any hospital admission to:

check whether the procedure is an Included, Restricted or Excluded service under your policy;

confirm whether you have served relevant waiting periods;

and discuss any out-of-pocket costs you may have as part of your hospital admission.

You should also speak to your specialists and the hospital to discuss any out-of-pocket costs you may have as an outpatient. Benefits may not be available in the first 12 months of cover if the procedure relates to a pre-existing condition.

Out-of-pocket costs

When there are out-of-pocket medical costs, they’re typically due to charges for:

principal specialist/surgeon

anaesthetist

assistants

diagnostics (e.g. lab tests, medical imaging)

other specialists

non-PBS medications

Medibank members admitted to a non-Medibank Members’ Choice Hospital may incur higher out-of-pocket costs.

Now that you've covered

☑ Understanding hospital cover

☑ Out-of-pocket costs

☑ Procedure costs

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Things you need to know

While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice, and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).