Bariatric Surgery Cost in Colorado: Denver, Boulder & Beyond (2026)
Here’s something counterintuitive: Colorado has the lowest adult obesity rate in the continental US — consistently around 24–25%, according to CDC BRFSS data, compared to a national average of 33%. Yet bariatric surgery programs in Denver are busy and well-established. Why? Because 24% of Colorado’s adult population is still roughly 1 million people. And the state’s active-lifestyle culture means many patients arrive more motivated and better suited for post-surgical lifestyle compliance than the national average.
Colorado’s pricing lands in a reasonable middle range — not as expensive as California or the Northeast, not as cheap as the rural South or Midwest. Gastric sleeve self-pay runs $15,500–$27,000 depending on program. The Denver metro has solid competition among accredited programs, and Health First Colorado (the state’s Medicaid program) covers surgery for qualifying patients.
Colorado Bariatric Surgery Prices (2026)
| Procedure | Denver Metro | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins / Northern CO | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric sleeve (VSG) | $16,000 – $27,000 | $15,500 – $25,000 | $15,000 – $24,000 | $14,000 – $23,000 |
| Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) | $19,000 – $29,000 | $18,500 – $27,000 | $18,000 – $26,500 | $18,000 – $28,000 |
| Duodenal switch | $25,000 – $37,000 | $24,000 – $35,000 | $23,000 – $34,000 | $22,000 – $35,000 |
| Mini gastric bypass | $18,000 – $26,000 | $17,500 – $25,000 | $17,000 – $24,500 | $17,000 – $25,000 |
| Revision surgery | $23,000 – $38,000 | $22,000 – $36,000 | $21,000 – $35,000 | $20,000 – $35,000 |
Denver is the most expensive Colorado market, driven by UCHealth’s academic premium and the higher cost of living relative to Colorado Springs or Fort Collins. Colorado Springs programs — particularly Centura Health campuses — are meaningfully cheaper for self-pay patients and offer full MBSAQIP accreditation.
Major Bariatric Programs in Colorado
UCHealth (University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora) UCHealth’s bariatric surgery program at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora is the state’s premier academic bariatric program. Affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, UCHealth handles the full range of primary and revisional procedures. Self-pay sleeve runs approximately $19,000–$27,000. UCHealth is the right choice for complex cases — significant comorbidities, prior abdominal surgeries, revisional needs, or patients whose metabolic profile needs a multidisciplinary academic workup. For straightforward sleeve or bypass in a healthy adult, the academic premium isn’t necessary.
SCL Health / CommonSpirit (multiple Denver-area campuses) SCL Health merged with Dignity Health to form CommonSpirit Health, and its Colorado bariatric programs now operate under the CommonSpirit umbrella at hospitals including St. Joseph Hospital (Denver), St. Mary’s Medical Center (Grand Junction), and Good Samaritan Medical Center (Lafayette). These programs are MBSAQIP-accredited and offer self-pay sleeve pricing in the $16,500–$25,000 range. CommonSpirit’s Denver programs are in-network with Anthem BCBS, Cigna, and many Colorado employer plans.
Porter Adventist Hospital (Denver) Part of Centura Health (now Centura/CommonSpirit), Porter Adventist Hospital in south Denver has a well-established bariatric surgery program. Porter has been performing weight loss surgery for decades and maintains strong outcomes data. Self-pay sleeve pricing runs approximately $16,000–$24,000 — somewhat more competitive than UCHealth for routine cases. Porter is a good option for patients with Aetna or UHC commercial coverage on the south Denver side.
Centura Health / Penrose-St. Francis (Colorado Springs) Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs is the major bariatric program for southern Colorado. Its program is MBSAQIP-accredited and offers pricing that’s 10–15% below Denver market rates — self-pay sleeve runs approximately $15,500–$23,000. For patients in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or the southern Front Range, Penrose-St. Francis is the local accredited choice.
Medical Center of the Rockies / UCHealth (Fort Collins/Loveland) UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland serves northern Colorado patients. Pricing runs slightly below UCHealth’s Denver flagship: $15,000–$23,000 for sleeve. For patients in Fort Collins, Greeley, or Loveland, this is the most convenient accredited option without the drive to Denver.
Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) Coverage
Health First Colorado — Colorado’s Medicaid program — covers bariatric surgery for qualifying adult members. Colorado is an ACA Medicaid expansion state and has been since January 2014. Medicaid in Colorado is delivered through Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCOs) and managed care plans.
Standard coverage criteria:
- BMI ≥ 40, or
- BMI ≥ 35 with at least one qualifying comorbidity (type 2 diabetes, severe sleep apnea, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease)
- Documented medically supervised weight management program participation (typically 3–6 months)
- Psychological evaluation and clearance
- Nutritional evaluation
- Primary care medical clearance
- Pre-authorization from Health First Colorado and your managed care plan
Colorado Medicaid operates primarily through managed care plans including Colorado Access, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and Anthem BCBS. Network specifics vary by plan — confirm your plan’s approved bariatric surgery providers before scheduling.
Altitude Considerations for Colorado Bariatric Patients
The Boulder / Mountain Resort Market
Boulder and the mountain resort communities (Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge) don’t have their own major bariatric programs — residents drive to Denver or Fort Collins. Boulder County residents have convenient access to both UCHealth and SCL Health programs in the Denver metro. The drive is 35–45 minutes on US-36.
One practical consideration: if you’re a ski resort employee or mountain community resident with lower income, Health First Colorado covers bariatric surgery. Mountain communities have significant workforce populations at qualifying income levels who may not realize they’re Medicaid-eligible.
Self-Pay Strategies for Colorado Patients
Compare UCHealth and Centura/CommonSpirit head-to-head. For routine sleeve or bypass, the price difference between UCHealth (academic premium) and Porter Adventist or Penrose-St. Francis (community hospital accredited programs) is $3,000–$5,000. Same accreditation tier for most routine cases.
Colorado Springs can save you money. The 70-mile drive from Denver to Colorado Springs is straightforward on I-25. Penrose-St. Francis’s self-pay pricing is among the most competitive in the state.
Ask about all-inclusive packages. Several Colorado programs offer bundled pricing that includes pre-op testing, surgery, anesthesia, one night of inpatient stay, and 6-month follow-up. These packages are typically better value than itemized billing.
For financing options, see bariatric surgery financing options. To understand the gastric sleeve procedure itself, see our gastric sleeve cost guide.
Disclaimer: BariatricCostGuide provides cost data for educational purposes only. We are not a medical provider, insurance company, or financial advisor. All costs are estimates based on published data and vary by location, facility, surgeon, insurance plan, and individual health factors. Consult a board-certified bariatric surgeon and your insurance carrier for personalized medical and cost advice.