How Do You Qualify For Free Bariatric Surgery

If you are interested in getting a free surgery done from a public health facility, you should consult your GP.

They should be able to direct you to a Medicare funded bariatric facility (Obesity and Metabolic clinics) where there are waiting times and certain qualifying criteria that must be met.

If you are a holder of a Private Health Insurance, weight loss surgery may be covered under your insurance. Depending on your cover, you may still incur some out-of-pocket expenses.

There are several other conditions that can affect insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs for bariatric surgery :

• Level of Hospital Cover – Many insurers will require a higher tier of coverage for it to include bariatric surgery
• Waiting Periods – There is usually a 12-month waiting period imposed for bariatric surgery after upgrading coverage
• Medical Necessity – To be covered, bariatric surgery in most cases must be deemed as medically necessary and not just desired for cosmetic reasons
• Hospital and Surgeon – Some health funds may only cover bariatric surgery if it’s performed at a specific hospital or by an approved surgeon. Choosing a provider outside of those recommended by insurers can increase gap fees.
• Policy Exclusions – Some policies specifically exclude weight-loss surgery or only cover it if it is deemed medically necessary

Always carefully review the specific terms and conditions of your private health insurance policy and get in contact with your private health insurance provider for more details.

At Healthy Weight Australia, we do not provide any free surgeries or procedures at any of our locations.

However, we can recommend a variety of financing options, such as Pantheon Financial Services. The team at Pantheon offer a hassle-free application process and a range of different financing options to suit every person’s individual circumstances.

You can also access your superannuation in certain cases for bariatric procedures. SuperCare can help facilitate the application for accessing your superannuation early, which takes the pressure and stress away from you to apply.

Explore our weight loss options :

Gastric Balloons : Allurion Balloon, Orbera Balloon

Gastric Sleeves : Endoscopic Sleeve, Laparoscopic Sleeve and Gastric Bypass