Average Cost of Hernia Surgery without Insurance
When an internal organ in your body such as the stomach or intestine bulges through muscle or skin, you end up with what doctors call a hernia.
Usually, this happens suddenly after straining or lifting weak muscles. About 5 million people in America develop a hernia annually according to the Cleveland Clinic.
To remedy the condition, surgery needs to be done.
If you are wondering how much the procedure would cost you especially if you are not covered by insurance, keep reading.
What are the Costs Associated with a Hernia Surgery?
Most hernias happen in the groin area and when we say that, we are talking about a whopping 70% experiencing this.
This is called an inguinal hernia, which can be repaired through laparoscopic or open surgery.
A study sampling over 1.5 million hernia repair surgeries reveals that an open surgery costs an average of $4,200 -$6,200 for patients without insurance.
Those who have coverage will pay coinsurance rates and deductible fees.
A survey carried out by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reveals that the typical family is required to pay a $939 deductible annually before the insurance covers any medical procedures.
Moreover, the survey states that 17.9% of the bill is the average coinsurance rate. That means that a patient would be charged $750- $1,109 for a hernia repair surgery.
For an umbilical hernia that happens in the stomach, a patient will be required to pay $4,000-$11,000. An insured patient, on the other hand, will pay between $700 and $2,000.
That said, some individuals choose to postpone surgery for the same, in which case their physician will insert a hernia truss that works by pushing the bulging organ back in place and that costs anything between $15 and $110.
Additional Costs
When a patient decides to get hernia surgery, they also have to consider that there are aftercare costs that need to be met.
For instance, they may need pain medication as well as rehabilitation services. They will also have to take some time off from their regular schedule.
A patient who has open surgery done can start doing light work two weeks post-surgery.
However, if a patient handles heavier tasks such as manual labor, they would have to wait 3-12 weeks before resuming work.
For laparoscopic surgery, patients need to wait a week or two before resuming work but only if they handle light duties. For those handling heavier tasks, a waiting period of 2-4 weeks should suffice.
Of course, the Family Medical Leave Act protects employees from being laid off as they recover from such procedures.
That said, employers do not need to pay their employees beyond sick leave and accrued vacation time during the recovery period.
Price Cuts
Having a hernia surgery is not cheap, especially without insurance coverage but the good news is that most hospitals offer financial aid to low-income individuals and families.
Of course, the level of aid varies from facility to facility, so patients may want to factor this in while budgeting for the procedure.
Hernia Repair Necessities
Average Cost of Hernia Surgery without Insurance
A general or primary care physician will often refer their patient suffering a hernia to a surgeon who specializes in the same.
It is the patient’s job to check the surgeon’s licensing and accreditation. They can do this online or physically.
Having a hernia also means purchasing things like a truss. If you decide to delay your surgery, you want to ensure that your truss fits and supports your hernia well.
A truss can offer total relief of hernia symptoms but it will not remedy the condition.
A pharmacist can always help patients with getting the right fit but what you need to keep in mind here is that the truss also costs money and you would have to part with between $15 and $110 for one.
Final Thoughts
Hernia repair surgery does not come cheap and patients usually get a reprieve in the form of insurance coverage.
Without insurance, paying for the procedure can be exorbitant.
Granted, you can choose to delay the surgery, in which case you would need to use a truss, but that would cost you and you would still need the surgery.
There are also aftercare costs to be considered, so without insurance coverage, you can expect to pay more than $4,200 on the lower side and $11,000 on the higher side.
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