Can I get a personal loan for weight loss surgery like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy?

Bariatric surgery cost breakdown: Gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy): $15,000-$20,000. Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y): $20,000-$30,000. Lap-Band adjustable gastric band: $14,000-$18,000. Revision surgery: $20,000-$35,000. These costs include surgeon fees, anesthesia, hospital stay, and required pre-op testing. Post-operative costs (nutrition counseling, follow-up visits, supplements) add $2,000-$5,000/year.

Insurance coverage: Some private insurance plans cover bariatric surgery if the patient meets BMI and comorbidity criteria and completes a required medically supervised weight loss program (typically 3-6 months). Medicare covers bariatric surgery for patients with a BMI of 35+ and at least one obesity-related condition. If insurance covers it, the out-of-pocket after insurance is typically $2,000-$5,000. If not covered, the full cost applies.

Financing options: Personal loan: $15,000-$25,000 at 8%-20% APR depending on credit. Fixed payments, funded in 1-5 days. CareCredit: accepted at many bariatric surgery centers. If you qualify for and can use the 0% promo period (12-24 months), it beats a personal loan for amounts under $20,000 you can pay off in time. Medical credit cards (Prosper Healthcare Lending, United Medical Credit): specialized medical lenders with terms designed for surgical financing.