Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the area's largest health insurer, does not usually cover gastric bypass operation procedures but is thinking of expanding its coverage. In addition, it is important to discuss the consequences of gastric bypass surgery costs with a psychologist and dietician. The number of Americans opting hysterectomy surgery jumped from 13,386 in 1998 to 121,055 in 2004, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Experts estimate that as many as 200,000 of the procedures were performed in 2006. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the area's largest health insurer, does not usually cover lap band surgeries procedures but is thinking of expanding its coverage. Today, the number of lap bands being performed has increased dramatically. "With the obesity severe, the change is dramatic," Hitchcock said. "It happens almost overnight. With the band, it's a much gentler transition." The entire operation takes only about thirty minutes and the patient is hospitalized for less than twenty-four hours. Weight loss usually occurs very quickly after restrictive procedure for weight loss and continues rapidly for about 18 months. At the same time, health problems directly related to obesity are likely to improve. Even though many large insurance companies are now offering coverage for staple surgery, many employers do not purchase policies that cover the cost of such operations. Two of the most common types of bariatric surgery performed today are the surgical obesity and laparoscopic gastric banding, also known as the lap-band.