Is weightloss surgery considered as cosmetic surgery by Medicare?
No- weightloss surgery has always been considered by Medicare as a genuine health intervention. Every surgical procedure that is supported by Medicare is listed in a large directory called the ‘MBS’ and each has its own unique Item Number. Weightloss surgery is no different- the Item Numbers for Gastric Banding and the Sleeve Gastrectomy are 30511 and 30518 repectively, meaning that Medicare will partially cover the costs involved. Furthermore, health funds will cover the hospital fees associated with any procedure that has an Item Number, including weightloss surgery (note that health funds usually offer different levels of access depending on your monthly premuim). As is common with most procedures, there is usually an out-of-pocket gap that the patient must pay as the rebates from Medicare and Health funds are not sufficient to cover all the costs. For weightloss surgery, this gap is $4950, however the true total cost when bed stay fees, theatre fees, equipment and prosthesis charge
