Average Cost Of Laser Back Surgery
Have you ever wondered what the average cost of laser back surgery is?
If you’re in need of a new procedure to correct the damage done to your back, you may be considering laser back surgery. Laser back surgery is an outpatient procedure that uses a laser to treat spinal stenosis and other types of degenerative disc disease.
While many people do not consider the cost of this procedure when selecting a treatment option, it is important to consider all your options before making a final decision on what type of treatment plan is right for you.
Laser back surgery is a minimally invasive technique that uses a laser to remove damaged tissue from the spinal cord.
What is Laser Back Surgery?
Laser back surgery is a minimally invasive technique that uses a laser to remove damaged tissue from the spinal cord.
Laser back surgery can be used to treat patients with any type of disc herniation or spinal stenosis, and it can reduce or eliminate pain caused by these conditions. Laser back surgery is also an option for treating nerve compression due to arthritis and other causes.
In this blog post, we will go over questin like is laser spine surgery covered by insurance and what is the success rate of laser spine surgery
The average cost of laser back surgery is as follows:
How Much Does Back Surgery Cost?
Posted by Vivek Kushwaha
An Overview of Back Surgery Costs
Back surgery is typically recommended only when non-surgical treatments have failed to relieve symptoms. If you have exhausted all other options and you are having chronic pain, you may start to wonder if back surgery is for you. One of the first questions on your mind is most likely, how much will a back surgery cost? Here is an overview of the costs of several different procedures in case you may need to have a surgery performed. Please be advised that the prices can differ depending on your location, insurance, and type of surgery.
Typical Costs of Back Surgeries
Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 1.16.42 PM
For patients not covered by health insurance, a laminectomy, typically used to treat spinal stenosis typically costs $50,000 to $90,000. Fortunately, back surgery is covered by most health insurance plans if recommended by a doctor. Most insurance plans will cover spinal surgery and Medicare will generally cover back surgery. For patients covered by insurance, assuming the deductible has been met, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of a co-insurance payment of between 10 and 40 percent of the procedure, for a total of $200 to $2,000 or more, up to the yearly out of pocket maximum.
A herniated disc procedure not covered by health insurance generally costs between $20,000 and $50,000 including the surgeon’s fee, anesthesiologist, and facility fee. A minimally invasive outpatient microdiscectomy would typically fall on the lower end of the scale while an inpatient open discectomy with a hospital stay would fall on the higher end. A herniated disc surgery is typically covered by health insurance if ordered by a doctor. For patients covered by insurance, assuming the deductible has been met, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of a co-insurance payment of between 10 and 40 percent of the procedure, for a total of approximately $2,000, up to the yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
For patients not covered by health insurance, a spinal fusion, typically used to treat conditions such as a slipped vertebrae or other spinal instability, typically costs between $80,000 to $150,000 and sometimes even higher! A surgery in which high-end titanium implants are used instead of a donor’s bone will typically be more expensive. Fortunately, depending on your insurance, the procedure would be approximately $5,000.
CostHelper > Health & Personal Care > General Surgery & Neurosurgery > Laser Spine Surgery
Laser Spine Surgery Cost
How Much Does Laser Spine Surgery Cost?
average cost Simple Procedure: $6,000-$20,000 high cost Complex Procedure: $20,000-$70,000+Unlike traditional spine surgery, in which doctors might rely on a high-speed drill or electrocautery[1] to repair or remove damaged areas, in laser spine surgery, a focused light beam is used to cut through tissue.
Typical costs:
Traditional spine surgery can cost from $6,000-$70,000, depending on the specific procedure, the type and complexity of the condition being treated, and the region in which it is performed. For example, at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[2] in Lincoln, NE, average spinal surgery costs are $39,871. However, because of the technology it requires, laser spine surgery can result in higher starting costs, and typically costs $30,000-$90,000 or more. What’s more, unlike traditional spine surgery, which is typically covered by health insurance, patients must often pay most of the cost themselves.
According to the Central Texas Spine Institute[3] in Austin, TX, many health care providers consider laser spine surgery experimental and do not cover it. Others may cover only part of the procedure. In one online forum[4] , one laser spine surgery patient complained that Aetna would not cover any portion of the $70,000 in total costs for the procedure. A patient in another forum said that his health care provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, would only pay about $10,000 of a $30,000 charge.
Related articles: Back Surgery, Back Brace, Spinal Traction, Health Insurance
How Much Does Back Surgery Cost?
Posted by Vivek Kushwaha
An Overview of Back Surgery Costs
Back surgery is typically recommended only when non-surgical treatments have failed to relieve symptoms. If you have exhausted all other options and you are having chronic pain, you may start to wonder if back surgery is for you. One of the first questions on your mind is most likely, how much will a back surgery cost? Here is an overview of the costs of several different procedures in case you may need to have a surgery performed. Please be advised that the prices can differ depending on your location, insurance, and type of surgery.
Typical Costs of Back Surgeries
Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 1.16.42 PM
For patients not covered by health insurance, a laminectomy, typically used to treat spinal stenosis typically costs $50,000 to $90,000. Fortunately, back surgery is covered by most health insurance plans if recommended by a doctor. Most insurance plans will cover spinal surgery and Medicare will generally cover back surgery. For patients covered by insurance, assuming the deductible has been met, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of a co-insurance payment of between 10 and 40 percent of the procedure, for a total of $200 to $2,000 or more, up to the yearly out of pocket maximum.
A herniated disc procedure not covered by health insurance generally costs between $20,000 and $50,000 including the surgeon’s fee, anesthesiologist, and facility fee. A minimally invasive outpatient microdiscectomy would typically fall on the lower end of the scale while an inpatient open discectomy with a hospital stay would fall on the higher end. A herniated disc surgery is typically covered by health insurance if ordered by a doctor. For patients covered by insurance, assuming the deductible has been met, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of a co-insurance payment of between 10 and 40 percent of the procedure, for a total of approximately $2,000, up to the yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
For patients not covered by health insurance, a spinal fusion, typically used to treat conditions such as a slipped vertebrae or other spinal instability, typically costs between $80,000 to $150,000 and sometimes even higher! A surgery in which high-end titanium implants are used instead of a donor’s bone will typically be more expensive. Fortunately, depending on your insurance, the procedure would be approximately $5,000.
Additional Back Surgery Costs
In addition to surgery, most patients require two to six weeks of recovery time so you may need to factor in the time that you would not be able to work.
Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 1.15.45 PMA back brace, which is sometimes required, can cost $200 or more.
Physical therapy is typically $50 to $100 or more per session can easily add $1,000 or more to the overall costs.
Pain medication will most likely be prescribed after surgery and other equipment, such as a walker, ranges from $50 to $100.
If you believe you need back surgery, here is a list of the insurances we accept. If you’re having chronic back pain, call board certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Kushwaha.
What should be included:
The Mayo Clinic advises patients not to proceed with any type of spine treatment until they first see a medical spine specialist who can evaluate symptoms and diagnose their cause.
Laser spine surgery is most often performed in outpatient facilities or specialized centers. According to Advanced Spine Surgery Center in Union, N.J., the procedure involves inserting an endoscope, a thin tube with a micro video camera attached to it, through an incision less than an inch in size near the affected area. A laser is then used to perform the surgery to repair or remove the affected tissue. General anesthesia is usually unnecessary.
Proponents[5] of the procedure note that it is minimally invasive, allows surgeons to precisely target areas of the spine, and brings a quick recovery time, which may be as little as a few days to week.
Additional costs:
Post-operative check-ups may be required.
Following surgery, some patients may need to use over-the-counter pain relievers[6] such as buprofen, which can cost about $5 -$25, depending on the quantity and whether the patient buys a name brand or its generic equivalent.
Discounts:
Some laser surgery centers offer to connect out-of-town patients with discounted travel and accommodation if needed.
Shopping for laser spine surgery:
Though the surgery has gained in popularity, according to the Mayo Clinic, its effectiveness has never been studied in a controlled clinical trial and most neurosurgeons don’t use the procedure since there are no clear benefits over more well-established techniques. There has been some controversy[7] surrounding laser spine surgery centers, with more than a dozen malpractice suits filed against a leading purveyor, the Tampa, FL-based Laser Spine Institute, since 2009.
LaserSpineSurgeon.com offers a checklist of questions patients considering the procedure should ask doctors.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
Is Laser Spine Surgery Covered By Insurance
When your physician determines that laser back surgery is essential to treat your persistent back discomfort, your insurance should pay for the operation as long as it is performed by a physician who takes your insurance. This means that your insurer should pay for the operation. To what extent does laser spine surgery have a high rate of success?Surgery is typically required to provide relief for twenty percent to forty percent of those who are affected.
