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Weight Loss Surgery Payment Options


 

At Surgithin, we believe that your health is paramount and we help you in achieving your goal. The cost of long term weight loss is less than you might think!

The cost of Lap Band Surgery depends on many factors, as given below:

-Length of Stay in Hospital
-Is there any Insurance Coverage?
-Facility, Lab Fees, Other Surgery Related Fees
-Pre and Post Operative Costs

 

Be assured that our practice will tell you honestly your overall costs. We do not resort to any gimmicks or hidden costs.  The good news is that many insurance companies now include Lap Band Surgery in their coverage. The following information is relevant for insurance patients.

 

PPO Insurance

We are pleased to be able to accept all PPO insurance plans (e.g. Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Healthnet, etc.) that cover weight loss surgery. Patients with PPO insurance can see us without needing a referral or prior authorization.

PPO Insurance Approval Process - The requirements for insurance authorization will vary by company and by policy. We help our patients in ascertaining eligibility. Our first step is to call your insurance company to: 1) verify that Lapband surgery or other weight loss procedures are covered benefits, and 2) determine the specific requirements for insurance authorization. Once we have gathered all of the necessary information we will be able to help you to meet the necessary requirements.

To learn if your health insurance coverage will pay for your surgery, and what your insurance authorization requirements are, please call our office or send us an online contact form.

 

HMO Insurance

We also accept some HMO insurance plans. Patients with HMO insurance will need to first consult with their primary care physician to obtain a referral to see us. Please call our office to see if we are contracted with your HMO prior to making your appointments.

 

Out of Pocket Costs

Even if you have health insurance, whether PPO or HMO, your policy will generally not cover all of the costs associated with your weight loss surgery. Typical out of pocket expenses can include items such as program fees, deductibles, and co-insurance. We will research your coverage for you, and inform you of your out of pocket costs after we have verified your insurance benefits. We do our best to have this information ready at your consultation.

 

Cash Patients

For those patients who do not have health insurance, or with insurance that does not cover these types of procedures, we are pleased to offer competitive prices for LAP-BAND® surgery, Gastric Balloon, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

 

Financing

We provide our patients with several options to finance their weight loss and other surgeries through third parties. Our Counselors will walk you through these steps so that it is transparent and easy to follow. These financing companies offer you an affordable way to have your procedure done immediately with monthly payments that fit your budget.

 

 

 

Accepted Insurance Plans

           

SurgiThin

Bariatric Surgeon located in West Hills, San Fernando Valley, CA

Dr. Mahbod Mark Paya, M.D. is the director and founder of SurgiThin (California Surgical Weight Loss Center) in West Hills, CA. A bariatric surgeon and obesity specialist, Dr. Paya has performed more than 5,000 laparoscopic procedures since 2004 to help morbidly obese patients from all parts of the United States.

Dr. Paya's dedication to the surgical treatment of obesity is reflected in his extensive education and continuing education certificates. He received his general medical degree at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City in 1997. He went on to his residency at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, where he became Chief Resident of general surgery, and received his fellowship in laparoscopy and bariatric surgery in 2004. Dr. Paya went even further in his own education for related procedures, including LAP-BAND placement, Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and revision surgery and regularly performs these procedures at his practice.

Dr. Paya believes that weight loss surgery is a great solution for morbidly obese patients who have struggled to lose weight throughout life. In order to increase each patient’s chance of complete and permanent weight loss, Dr. Paya has developed a multi-disciplinary approach to augment and compliment every obesity surgery he performs. As a bariatric surgeon, he collaborates with a team of psychologists, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, exercise facilities and fitness trainers for a balanced approach with the goal of helping the patient achieve permanent weight loss. This proactive approach helps the patient address the challenges of permanent weight loss from every aspect, assisting in his or her rehabilitation to maximize healthy weight loss and maintain the loss once it has been achieved for the rest of the patient’s life. Dr. Paya and his staff believe that knowledge and education are key components in the success of each patient’s weight loss journey.

Dr. Paya and the staff at SurgiThin understand that the patient’s decision to undergo bariatric surgery is not an easy one to make. It is a complex procedure with its own set of risks. In addition, the patient must be dedicated and involved in his or her own success. Dr. Paya’s knowledge, skill and compassionate guidance, along with the support of his staff, helps the patient along the path to health with tools designed for maximum success with the fewest complications. The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recognize Dr. Paya and SurgiThin as qualified for their Centers of Excellence program. This program recognizes and rewards bariatric centers who provide suitable and appropriate equipment and support for patients who often exceed ideal body weight by more than 75 pounds.

Dr. Paya has written obesity-related chapters in a number of general surgery books and has given lectures on bariatric surgery all over the United States, offering his insight and experience to other bariatric specialists. He has produced and published numerous videos on the subject of laparoscopic bariatric surgical procedures, including lap band, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and related procedures. He was also recently featured in a National Geographic special, "The Science of Obesity" and is regularly interviewed on national and local health reports on the subject of weight control, obesity and weight loss surgery.

Dr. Paya is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery, a diplomat of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He is affiliated with other hospitals, including the Center for Bariatric Surgery at the West Hills Hospital and Medical Center, Northridge Medical Hospital, UCI Medical Center and Hills Surgery Center.

Accepted Insurance Plans

We are pleased to be able to accept all PPO insurance plans (e.g. Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Healthnet, etc.) that cover weight loss surgery. Patients with PPO insurance can see us without needing a referral or prior authorization. We also accept some HMO insurance plans. Patients with HMO insurance will need to first consult with their primary care physician to obtain a referral to see us. To learn if your health insurance coverage will pay for your surgery, and what your insurance authorization requirements are, please call our office or send us an online contact form.

Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Health Net
Medicare
UnitedHealthcare (except United Community Care Plan)
Testimonials

Words from our patients

  • Vitals

    "I had the surgery, and had no complications, very little discomfort, and I was back to work in a week. I recommend Dr. Paya to anyone!!

    Patient
  • Vitals

    "Dr. Paya is one of the most skilled surgeons in Los Angeles. I had a complicated abdominal problem that multiple surgeons missed.""

    Patient
  • facebook

    "I have been his patient since 2008, very happy with my 2008 band and my 2015 new gastric bypass!!!"

    Efrat B.
  • "Dr. Paya and his staff are wonderful people! He's an excellent surgeon that knows his stuff. His bedside manner and professionalism is impeccable. Satisfied."

    skinnyrn2b
  • "He is a very skilled surgeon, he is Board Certified in General Surgery & a member of American College of Surgeons & a member of American Society of Bariatric Surgery."

    Martha R.
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SurgiThin
7320 Woodlake Avenue
Suite 300
San Fernando Valley, CA 91307