What Will It Cost?

Medical Cover - Cost of Surgery

• The majority of patients have indicated to us that they were much happier if there was just a one-off affordable payment for this surgery.
• Patients said they didn't want requests coming to them from lots of different people such as dieticians/ psychologists/ exercise therapists /surgical assistants/ life coaches and anaesthetists which other clinics may charge separately for and which can be a hidden unexpected cost to patients.
• They also indicated that they strongly disliked ongoing consulting fees after the surgery which over the years could be in the thousands of dollars. We dont have these

Single Fee

• Our policy therefore is to have a single payment of $2,800, which is called a "facility fee".

• This facility fee provides access to the Obesity Clinic for all follow-up appointments which means patients are bulk billed following their surgery. This fee is paid to the clinic at least a week before surgey.
• This also underpins our belief that the follow up is an important part of this procedure and that we want to and insist on seeing patients regularly post operatively. Having a clinic which doesn't then charge for post op visits hopefully ensures that patients wont stay away for financial reasons.

No Gap Payments

• The facility fee also covers any difference in rebate to the surgeon, the anaesthetist and the assistant so the patients are not worried about gap payments at the time they are recovering from their important surgery.

• the "facility fee"has so far worked worked well and meets the needs that the majority of our patients with no ongoing gaps or fees and they do not have to deal with invoices from various people at the time of their surgery.

• IT HAS ALSO BEEN FREQUENTLY ASKED WHY WE HAVE ONE OF THE CHEAPEST "FEE" STRUCTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
• The answer is that it is our belief that this surgery should be available to all who need it and that by providing excellent surgical care for a reasonable fee more patients can potentially benefit.

The feedback we have received since introducing this system has been extremely positive and more importantly we find people are much more inclined to keep their follow up appointments if there is not a gap of $70- $100 being charged for each of these visits.We do not believe in providing loans or bridging finance for surgery as is the practice in some circles.Ashford Surgery and Bariatric clinic is solely about providing the best surgical care for our patients to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Questions you should ask if there is not a one off "facility fee"

• If a clinic does not offer a "facility fee" patients should thoroughly check to find out exactly what the total costs or "gap" payments are.These can be quite considerable and can run to thousands of dollars--they are often difficult to work out as patients only find out after their surgery unless they specifically ask.
• Patients will need to obtain quotations not only from the surgeon, but also from the assistant,the dietician /pyschologist/ exercise therapist /the hospital and the anaesthetist before they can determine what the total cost of the procedure is.Patients should also check to find out whether they will be charged gaps at post op consultations and what other costs there are.

• In having a one-off facility fee as Ashford Surgery and Bariatric clinic does,, which some of the larger clinics have also implemented, we then attempt to ensure that the anaesthetist and the assistant doctors are paid from the clinics facility fee so that the patient is not inconvenienced with a number of invoices from medical personnel. However, if there is any further surgery required, whether it is cosmetic or band removal, this surgery may incur a gap payment.
• If the patient desires to be reviewed by a nutritionist there may be a charge which isn't covered by some of the the health funds we ask you to check that to ensure that they do.
• If you are thinking of having laparoscopic gastric banding, nearly all the health funds will pay the full cost, except for the facility fee.
• However, we do strongly advise that you check your level of cover with your health insurance provider to ensure that you are covered as a private patient at a private hospital. Ask them specifically about item numbers 30511 (placement of lapband), 30473 (endoscopy) and 30514 (removal of lap band).

More Information

• We have had requests in the past, for patients who are uninsured and who wish to pay the total cost of laparoscopic gastric banding. We have performed a few of these, where we have been certain that they will not be embarrassed by the total cost, which is in the region of $18,000.
• We do take a strong stand in encouraging these patients to take private health insurance, and although they will have to wait a year, we see them after 9 months to initiate the process. This way, their out of pocket expense is just the facility fee of $2,800 (plus their monthly insurance premiums).Because of our attractive fee structure and experience we attract interest in this procedure from interstate and countries beyond Australia--
• Dr Anderson WILL accept these patients, if they can show that they have a bariatric clinic to look after them following surgery; the same high level of post operative care which is needed to ensure their success by comparison to those domiciled in South Australia