Does Medicare Cover Bunion Surgery? – Overview
Bunions (hallux abducto valgus) on the foot can be annoying and painful. These are progressive and get worse with time if left untreated. Usually, bunions begin to grow on the big toe.
With time, you will see additional bumps forming, which can also cause significant discomfort.
However, the pain is just one of the issues with bunions. In the worst-case scenario, bunions can get worse enough to restrict your mobility.
Fortunately, bunions can be easily removed using surgery. However, bunion removal surgery can be quite expensive. Hence, people usually enquire if Medicare covers bunion surgery.
In this article, we have detailed the Medicare coverage for bunion surgery and other important relevant information.
Medicare Cover for Bunion Surgery
Medicare covers the cost of bunion surgery. However, you should not expect Medicare to pay 100% of the total cost every time.
As usual, there are certain conditions and criteria that need to be met to be eligible for Medicare coverage.
Medicare Cover for Bunion Surgery
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) offers coverage for bunion removal surgery.
The cost of this surgery and other related expenses will be covered when your doctor deems the bunion removal surgery as medically necessary.
Bunion removal surgery is usually performed as an outpatient surgical procedure.
Medicare Part B covers around 80% of the total cost of bunion removal surgery. Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) also covers the cost of bunion removal surgery.
This plan covers everything under the Original Medicare policies and also provides additional benefits.
However, you should be prepared to pay some out-of-pocket expenses, depending on the specific Medicare plan you have.
Your doctor may also advise other types of treatment for bunions.
For instance, you can be prescribed pads, inserts or toe spacers, which provide significant relief. In worst cases, doctors do advise bunion removal surgery, though.
Different Types of Bunion Surgeries
There are more than 40 different types of bunion removal surgery. However, the three most popular and commonly performed bunion removal surgeries are:
- Osteotomy – This surgery requires cutting the affected big toe joint and realigning the bones into the normal position.
- Exostectomy – This surgery involves removing the bunion but does not include realigning the bone.
- Arthrodesis – This surgery requires removing the affected toe joint and replacing it with a prosthetic screw or metal plate to remedy the deformity.
Cost of Bunion Removal Surgery
Bunion removal surgery cost varies depending on several factors, such as type of surgical setting, location, Medicare-enabled or not, etc.
On average, bunion surgery costs between US$ 3,500 to more than US$ 12,000. Usually, you can expect to undergo bunion removal surgery for around US$ 5,560.
Conclusion
Bunion removal surgery is usually required in worst-case scenarios where the condition is painful and affects your mobility. Medicare offers to cover the complete cost of most bunion removal surgeries.
Make sure to consult with your doctor and the local Medicare office to confirm if you qualify for Medicare aid for bunion removal surgery before deciding to undergo the surgical procedure.
See Also
Does Medicare Cover Shingles Shots?
Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic?
Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?
Does Medicare Cover Bone Density Test?
I am a dedicated healthcare researcher and an enthusiast specializing in medical grants, medical education and research. Through my articles, I aim to empower healthcare professionals and researchers with valuable insights and resources to navigate these critical aspects effectively.
Having sharpened her skills as a validation manager in the fast-paced world of Cybersecurity over a decade, Andrea now applies her expertise to raise the standards of the fact-checking space. As a meticulous fact-checker, she diligently validates the claims presented in our articles, leaving no room for misinformation or ambiguity.
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