Primary Bariatric Surgery

Welcome to the Brisbane General & Obesity Surgery (BGOS) Family.

We are excited to help you get started on your weight-loss journey.

Please follow the pathway using the links below, or as you have been directed.

Your pathway to surgery

  • Having surgery is a major step to improve your health and also a costly one.

    We recommend that you follow this process to ensure that from a financial point of view you will have the surgery covered.

  • Arrange any dietitian, psychology and other appointments that have been recommended.

  • Complete the Financial Informed Consent, Gastroscopy Consent and Surgical Consent Forms

  • Get the blood tests done at QML or Sullivan Nicolaides.

    Ensure your Gastroscopy has been booked.

  • You will have a second appointment with your surgeon to confirm the complete treatment plan and go over any results.

  1. Review Quotes and Funding

Review your fee estimate document

Check your finances against the fee estimate

If you have Private Health Insurance

Check your Private Health cover

Contact your private health insurance fund to check that the item numbers provided on your fee estimate are covered under your health insurance policy. Failure to do so could result in you facing significant financial liability.

As a general rule, all GOLD policies will cover bariatric surgery, unless you have an opt-out clause.

SILVER and BRONZE policies generally do not cover bariatric surgery. There may be instances where historic SILVER-PLUS policies do cover bariatric surgery, but you must check with your health fund.

OR

Take out Private Health Insurance

We recommend for patients to consider private health insurance when planning to have bariatric surgery. However, there will be a 12 month waiting period because obesity is a “pre-existing condition”.

Insurance comparison sites such as Compare The Market or iSelect might be able to help you to find the best price for insurance cover that is appropriate for you.

Not every health insurance pays providers in the same way, and because of this we recommend to AVOID NIB and FRANK Health Insurance and related polices because of their low rebate amounts and potential for you to have higher out-of-pocket fees to cover costs.

How do you plan to cover out of pocket expenses?

I will cover out-of-pocket expenses myself

Review the fee estimate provided to check the out-of-pocket expenses you will likely incur.

My Supercare for Early Release of Superannuation

We recommend using Supercare as a third party to assist with your Early Release of Superannuation to make the process as hassle-free as possible. They take care of the process from start to finish, including GP support letter and chasing up with the ATO. Their administrative fee of $480 is added onto your withdrawal amount, which means that there are no up-front payments required.

We do not receive any commission or incentives by recommending Supercare.

Self-Application for Early Release of Superannuation

If you would like to do the application for Early Release of Superannuation (ERS) yourself, you will need to sign and complete THIS FORM from us first, to ensure that you completely understand the process and liabilities of Early Release of Superannuation.

Your ATO Supporting letter will then be released by our team.

If you are unable to complete the application process on your own, we recommend that you use a third party to do this for you.

Medical Personal Loan

Personal finance loans are available for medical treatment.

Total Lifestyle Credit and Medipay are credible options to consider as an alternative to Early Release of Superannuation.

Pease click on the Total Lifestyle Credit icon to access our partnership link application.

We do not receive any commission of incentives to refer to either of these companies.

2. Book appointments

Psychology Appointment

(they will contact you)

Attend any other:

Exercise Physiologist Appointment

Other Specialist Appointments that you have been referred for

3. Complete Forms

There are 3 consent forms to complete

4. Tests and Investigations

Blood Tests

Please use the form provided to you to get FASTING blood tests done at QML or Sullivan Nicolaides

Gastroscopy

Patients will undergo a gastroscopy to inspect the lining of the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine prior to surgery, unless they have had a gastroscopy within the last 12 months and the full information needed has already been obtained.

If you have not scheduled your gastroscopy yet, please liaise with our admin team.

Phone (07) 3153-6633

5. Confirmation Appointment

At your Confirmation Appointment, your surgeon and bariatric nurse coordinator will go over:

  • the proposed surgery and treatment plan

  • multidisciplinary inputs from Allied Health professionals

  • results from any investigations

  • all relevant forms have been completed

  • ensure that you have a complete understanding and dedication to the plan

Potential surgery dates will then be identified, and the surgical booking process commenced.

This includes:

  • Review of medical conditions

  • Peri-operative medication review

  • Blood clot risk stratification and VTE Prophylaxis planning

  • Comprehensive Anaesthetic Questionnaire