What does a gastric sleeve cost – and what does German health insurance pay?
Gastric sleeve surgery, also called sleeve surgery, with Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® is also available through German statutory health insurance if the medical indication is established in line with the guidelines. Without health insurance, the treatment is available to self-paying patients. Prices start at €2,900; we set the exact price in the consultation. The price includes private-practice preliminary examination and aftercare, laboratory tests, anaesthesia, the clinic stay, medication and materials during the stay, one year of the Weight Doctors® App with a digital scale and Weight Doctors® Mira, and two 3D Bodyscans.
As a self-paying patient, you start without a waiting period, can pay in instalments and may be able to deduct the costs from your tax as extraordinary expenses. In our experience, simpler conditions apply to privately insured patients: if the procedure is considered medically necessary, many private insurers cover the costs in full or in part.
Patients with German statutory health insurance have a chance of cost coverage if the medical indication meets the guidelines; the decision is made case by case, based on BMI and recognised related conditions. This is usually preceded by the six-month multimodal programme (MMK) with nutrition counselling, an exercise log, a psychological assessment, gastroscopy and a full blood count; the MMK itself is not a service covered by the health insurer. With a primary indication – BMI from 50 or from 35 with type 2 diabetes that has exhausted treatment options – immediate surgery is possible.
There is no prior application: we organise the MMK and the surgery appointment, we check all the requirements for you before the surgery, and billing with your German health insurer follows directly after the surgery. You do not have to speak to your health insurer. You can read more in the article Weight-loss surgery and health insurance. This is how the costs are split: