Does Medicare cover bariatric surgery?

What bariatric surgery does Medicare cover?

Medicare Part B covers some bariatric surgical procedures, like gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic banding surgery, if you're eligible. Medicare's national coverage determination for bariatric surgery lists these covered procedures:

• Open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Open and laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, or gastric reduction duodenal switch
• Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding
• Stand-alone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, when the Medicare Administrative Contractor for your region decides to cover it for people who meet the same conditions

Who qualifies for bariatric surgery under Medicare?

You qualify if you meet certain conditions related to morbid obesity. Under the national coverage determination, you must meet all of these:

• A body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher.
• At least one other health condition (co-morbidity) related to obesity. Since February 12, 2009, CMS has counted type 2 diabetes as one of these conditions.
• You've tried medical treatment for obesity before, without success.

What do I pay for bariatric surgery with Medicare?

Your costs for bariatric surgery are hard to predict in advance, because you won't know what services you need until you meet with your provider. You pay the deductible amounts before Medicare starts to pay, and after that you may have copayments for the care you get. Check your Part A deductible if you expect to be admitted to the hospital, and your Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) for doctor's visits and other outpatient care.

To estimate your costs, Medicare.gov suggests you:

• Ask the doctor, hospital or facility what you'll pay for the surgery and any care afterward.
• Find out whether you'll be an inpatient or an outpatient, because what you pay may be different.
• If you're an outpatient, ask whether you can choose between an ambulatory surgical center and a hospital outpatient department.
• Check what any other insurance will pay, like coverage from your or your spouse's employer, Medicaid, or a Medigap policy.

What doesn't Medicare cover for weight-loss surgery?

Medicare doesn't cover treatments for obesity alone. CMS's national coverage determination lists these procedures and treatments as not covered for anyone with Medicare, and Medicare.gov adds travel costs:

• Open adjustable gastric banding
• Open sleeve gastrectomy
• Open and laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty
• Intestinal bypass surgery
• Gastric balloon for treatment of obesity
• Supplemented fasting (a very low calorie diet) as a general treatment for obesity
• Transportation to get to a bariatric surgery center

Does Medicare Advantage or Medigap change bariatric surgery coverage?

Medicare Advantage plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers, and you may need approval (prior authorization) from the plan before it covers certain services; contact your plan for its rules and costs. A Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy helps pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. See how Medicare Advantage differs from Original Medicare.

What other weight-loss care does Medicare cover?

Medicare Part B covers obesity screening and behavioral counseling for people with a BMI of 30 or more; see Does Medicare cover obesity counseling?. Since July 1, 2026, the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge also covers certain GLP-1 drugs for eligible people with Medicare drug coverage (Part D); see Does Medicare cover weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound?.