Out-of-pocket costs for insured patients after sleeve gastrectomy versus gastric bypass weight-loss surgery

Adjusted out-of-pocket costs for patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) were $122 less than those for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in the first year.

• Total out-of-pocket costs after SG were $1083, $1236, and $1266 in postoperative years 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
• For RYGB, adjusted out-of-pocket costs were $1228, $1377, and $1369 in the same years.
• The difference in out-of-pocket costs between SG and RYGB was consistent at approximately $100 less for SG across three years.
• Co-insurance features significantly contributed to the differences in out-of-pocket costs between the two procedures.
• The largest clinical contributors to differences included endoscopy and outpatient care in year 1, outpatient care in year 2, and emergency department use in year 3.

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