Has your spine been killing you for a while? You may want to schedule surgery to help relieve the pain, but you should consider the amount your spine surgery center may charge.
A lot goes into determining the average spine surgery cost. Be sure you consider the procedure you need and the insurance coverage you have.
Keep reading to learn more details.
Type of Surgery
First, you’ll want to consider how serious or invasive your spine surgery will be. Endoscopic surgery tends to cost less than a lumbar spine fusion, for example.
More serious surgeries will require a longer stay in the hospital, which is part of what makes them cost more. However, some surgeries require more tools and medical professionals.
Surgery could cost as little as $7,000 or close to $40,000. Be sure to ask your spine surgery center for a price list or estimate on the procedure you need.
In-Network vs. Out-of-Network
Another factor to consider is if your doctor or spine surgery center is in or out of your insurance network. Your health insurance plan has a network of doctors and facilities that offer care to you for less.
You can go out-of-network, but you may need to cover the entire cost of the surgery. When you stay in your network, your insurance company will cover a larger portion of the cost.
However, this can limit your choice of doctors, and you might not get to go to your first choice. Ask your surgeon if they’re in your network to make sure you can save money.
Your Deductible
If you go through your insurance company, you’ll have to meet your deductible. This is the amount you have to spend before your insurance policy starts to pay for some or all of your care.
You’ll also have an out-of-pocket maximum, which may be the same or higher than your deductible. If you meet that, your plan will cover the entire cost of your surgery and other medical expenses.
However, you may need to pay for a big chunk of your surgery if you haven’t met your deductible for the year.
Co-Payment
When you have yet to meet your deductible, you may need to make a co-payment (copay). This is a small portion of the overall cost of the surgery, and it can vary based on your insurance plan.
The copay may be a given dollar amount, or it could be a percentage of the total cost. Check your insurance benefits to get an idea of how much your copay could be for your procedure.
You might also have to pay co-insurance. When you meet your deductible but not your out-of-pocket maximum, you may need to pay a certain percentage of any medical expenses you have until you meet that annual maximum.
Choose an Affordable Spine Surgery Center
Selecting the right spine surgery center involves a lot of factors. For many people, cost is one of the biggest aspects because surgery can be expensive.
Be sure to consider everything from the type of surgery to your deductible. Then, you can estimate how much you’ll owe for the procedure.
Do you need spine surgery? Learn more about our back and spine services.
