Financial Information

The hospital fees are covered by your private health insurance. However, you will need to have the highest level of cover (Gold) with most health funds to cover bariatric surgery in private hospitals. Contact your health fund to inquire about your cover by using the appropriate item numbers listed below.

Please note that, if you have recently joined a health fund or upgraded your level of cover, there is a mandatory 12 months waiting period before bariatric surgery is covered.

When you undergo bariatric surgery with Dr Cheng, you will be charged a Weight Loss Program Fee. This fee includes:

• Surgeon’s fee and Assistant surgeon’s fee
• Three sections of dietitian consultation
• Postoperative follow-up appointments up to 12 months
• Administrative fees

Your anaesthetist will contact you prior to your surgery to confirm the fees. The private health funds payment to anaesthetists works differently to payments to surgeons.  For this reason, you will likely have an out-of-pocket expense for their services.

For further information, please refer to the Australian Society of Anaesthetists website:(https://asa.org.au/what-will-it-cost/)

The Weight Loss Program Fee includes three sections dietitian consultation. Additional dietitian consultations are available on a standard fee. Health or Medicare rebates may apply for eligible patients.

Psychologist consultation may be indicated for some patients before their bariatric surgery. This is to address any psychological issues that may impact on the success of surgery. Health fund or Medicare rebates may apply for eligible patients.

Additional fees will apply when other medical specialists are involved in your care, such as a cardiologist or an endocrinologist. This is to optimize your medical conditions before and after your surgery. Health fund or Medicare rebates may apply for eligible patients.

All blood tests are bulk-billed.

Depending on your medical condition(s), special tests may be required prior to the surgery. Tests such as heart scan (echocardiogram) and sleep study are common examples. Occasionally, an endoscopy may also be required. These special tests are separately charged.