Bariatric Surgery Cost Overview
| Procedure | Hospital Stay | Private Total (SGD) | Medisave? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy | 2–3 night stay | $18,000–$30,000 | Yes ($7,000) |
| Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) | 3–4 night stay | $22,000–$35,000 | Yes ($7,000) |
| OAGB / Mini Gastric Bypass | 3–4 night stay | $20,000–$32,000 | Yes ($7,000) |
| Adjustable Gastric Band | 1–2 night stay | $15,000–$22,000 | Yes |
| Revisional Bariatric Surgery | 3–5 night stay | $25,000–$45,000+ | Yes |
| Sleeve to Bypass Conversion | 3–4 night stay | $22,000–$38,000 | Yes |
What's Included in the Total Cost
| Component | Proportion | Typical Range (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon's fee | 35–45% of bill | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Anaesthetist fee | 12–18% | $3,000–$6,000 |
| Hospital/facility fee | 25–35% | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Nutritional supplements (6 months) | Ongoing | $600–$1,800 |
| Pre-op investigations | One-off | $500–$1,500 |
| Post-op dietitian follow-up | Ongoing | $400–$800/year |
Medisave, MediShield & IP Insurance
Medisave: up to $7,000 per admission. MediShield Life base coverage applies. With a private hospital IP plan, most of the remaining cost is covered subject to your annual deductible ($1,500–$3,500) and 10% co-insurance. IP plan riders can reduce out-of-pocket to just the deductible.
Real-world example: Sleeve gastrectomy total bill $25,000 → Medisave claim $7,000 → Remaining $18,000 → IP claim (90% after $2,500 deductible) = $13,950 covered → Out-of-pocket: ~$4,050.
Yes. Bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, gastric band) is Medisave-claimable as it is a scheduled procedure under MOH's Medisave withdrawal framework. You can use up to $7,000 from your Medisave account per bariatric surgery admission. MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans also cover bariatric surgery subject to standard deductibles and co-insurance.
With good Integrated Shield Plan (IP) coverage at private hospitals, many patients pay $3,000–$8,000 out-of-pocket for a procedure that costs $22,000–$35,000 total. The calculation: total bill minus IP insurance claim minus Medisave claim = out-of-pocket. Patients without IP on private-rate admissions pay more.
Yes. Post-bariatric costs include: lifelong nutritional supplements ($100–$300/month), regular blood tests every 6 months initially ($200–$600/year), dietitian follow-up ($80–$150/session), and any revisions needed. Budget approximately $2,000–$5,000 per year for the first 2 years, then $1,000–$2,000/year ongoing.
Public hospitals (SGH Bariatric Surgery Programme, NUH, Ng Teng Fong) offer bariatric surgery at subsidised rates significantly below private hospital costs — potentially 40–70% cheaper with subsidy. Waiting times are longer (3–12 months). Eligibility criteria and the quality of surgical care are equivalent.