- Operation with coverage: €385 deductible (2026).
- Vitamins and calcium: about €120-€180 a year, for life.
- Check-ups can count towards the deductible each year.
- Skin surgery: not always covered.
- Self-pay pathway: roughly €7,000-€11,000.
What does weight loss surgery cost in the first year?
In the year of surgery you pay your deductible of 385 euros, unless you already used it on other care. Add WLS vitamins and calcium from the start, about 10 to 15 euros a month. Many people also buy new clothes several times in the first year as their size changes quickly.
Some people choose extra support not covered by the basic package, such as physiotherapy via supplementary insurance or a gym membership. These are optional but often useful.
The following years
Aftercare at the centre lasts at least five years. Check-ups are covered, but count towards your deductible in years when you have not used it. After five years, yearly blood tests via your GP remain important; lab costs also count towards the deductible. Vitamins continue for life.
Costs you may not expect
Skin surgery after major weight loss is only reimbursed with a medical indication from a specialist and a stable weight, and not every insurer covers it. Mounjaro, if you use it before or after surgery, is not covered; at Vitalys continuing after two years costs 450 euros per six months.
Revision surgery with a medical reason is covered by the basic package, again with the deductible.
Costs that are covered and costs that are not
Advantages
| Advantage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Screening and operation | covered |
| Hospital stay | covered |
| Five years of aftercare | covered |
| Lifestyle programme | covered |
Points of attention
| Point of attention | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Vitamins and calcium | own cost, for life |
| Skin surgery | not always covered |
| Clothing | several sizes in year one |
| Gastric balloon or Mounjaro | not covered |
Cost and insurance (2026)
An example budget, assuming coverage and no other care in the years shown.
| Item | Amount or arrangement |
|---|---|
| Year 1: deductible | €385 |
| Year 1: vitamins | about €120-€180 |
| Years 2-5: deductible (if check-ups only) | up to €385 per year |
| Years 2-5: vitamins | about €120-€180 per year |
| Self-pay pathway instead | about €7,000-€11,000 |
Lifetime cost: key figures
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Deductible 2026 | €385 |
| Vitamins per month | €10-€15 |
| Vitamins over five years | about €600-€900 |
| WeightWorks self-pay all-in 2026 | €10,700 |
| Mounjaro continuation (Vitalys) | €450 / 6 months |
Covered pathway versus self-pay over five years
| Item | Covered | Self-pay |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and screening | €385 deductible | about €7,000-€11,000 |
| Aftercare | covered (deductible may apply) | check what is included |
| Vitamins five years | about €600-€900 | about €600-€900 |
| Skin surgery | only with indication | own cost |
Step by step
- Year 1. Deductible, vitamins, clothing.
- Years 2-5. Vitamins, deductible in check-up years.
- After 5 years. Vitamins, yearly blood tests.
- Optional. Physiotherapy, gym, skin surgery.
- Plan. Keep a simple yearly budget.
Read next
- Cost and insurance — overview
- Dutch health insurance — natura and restitution
- Vitamins — which and how much
- Aftercare — five years
Saving on vitamins without cutting corners
Compare WLS suppliers and pack sizes; larger packs are often cheaper per month. Do not switch to a regular multivitamin to save money: it contains too little and deficiencies cost far more in the long run. Calcium with vitamin D can be bought at a pharmacy or drugstore as long as the dose is right.
Tax and employer
Some specific medical costs can be deductible in the Dutch income tax return under conditions. Rules change and depend on your situation, so check the Belastingdienst website or ask a tax adviser. Discuss time off for surgery and recovery with your employer in advance.
A five-year example budget
Suppose you have your operation in year one and no other care in the following years. Year one: 385 euros deductible plus about 150 euros for vitamins. Years two to five: up to 385 euros deductible per year if check-ups and blood tests use it, plus about 150 euros for vitamins each year. Over five years that is roughly 2,300 to 2,700 euros, spread over time.
If you already use your deductible on other care each year, the extra cost of surgery is mainly the vitamins. A simple yearly budget helps avoid surprises.
Costs you can plan to avoid
Buy clothes second-hand or in small amounts during the first year while your size changes. Compare vitamin suppliers. And keep attending check-ups: detecting deficiencies early is much cheaper than treating their consequences.
Self-pay: what to check in a quote
If you choose a self-pay pathway, ask for a written quote that lists the screening, operation, hospital stay, aftercare and what happens with complications or readmissions. WeightWorks' 10,700 euros is an all-in price; other quotes may exclude parts. Compare like with like before deciding.
Cost compared with the benefits
Many people find that costs are partly offset by lower spending later: less medication for diabetes or blood pressure, fewer doctor visits and more energy for work. Those effects differ per person, so treat them as a possible benefit, not a guarantee.
Discuss your expectations with your team.
Frequently asked questions about the lifetime cost
The operation costs your deductible, 385 euros in 2026. Vitamins and calcium add about 120 to 180 euros a year.
Check-ups and blood tests count towards the deductible in each year you have not used it on other care.
Roughly 600 to 900 euros, at 10 to 15 euros a month.
Only with a medical indication and stable weight, and not by every insurer.
Roughly 7,000 to 11,000 euros; WeightWorks charges 10,700 euros all-in in 2026.
No. At Vitalys continuing after two years costs 450 euros per six months.
Many people buy several sizes in the first year; plan for it.
With a medical reason, yes, with the deductible.
Compare suppliers and pack sizes, but never switch to a regular multivitamin.
Some specific costs can be under conditions; check the Belastingdienst or a tax adviser.
Call +31 6 38048347 (Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00) or email info@maagverkleining-info.nl. This page is also available in Dutch.
Sources
- Vitalys (Rijnstate): reimbursement, vitamins and Mounjaro
- WeightWorks: prices 2026
- Zorgverzekeringwijzer: cost of bariatric surgery 2026
Search terms leading here: total cost weight loss surgery Netherlands, lifetime cost gastric bypass, weight loss surgery budget.
Author: Gijs Bodenstaff. Last reviewed: September 2026.