 | With Insurance: $100+ (Non-surgical) to Out-of-Pocket Maximum (Surgery) |
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 | Non-surgical Treatment: $500 or Less |
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 | Surgical Treatment: $11,000-$17,000+ |
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| Typical costs: | - Without insurance, diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of a broken collarbone (clavicle) typically costs $500 or less. A clavicle X-ray costs about $210 on average, according to NewChoiceHealth.com, but some radiology centers charge $1,000 or more. A typical office visit doctor fee for a fracture would be $90 to $200, according to Carolina Orthopaedic Surgery Associates.
- Without insurance, surgical treatment typically costs between $11,000 and $17,000 or more. Clavicle fracture surgery costs between $8,562 and $15,021, not including the surgeon's fee, according to according to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. And a typical surgeon's fee for treatment of a fracture could reach $2,000 or more, according to Carolina Orthopaedic Surgery Associates.
- Health insurance usually will cover a broken collarbone. Typical expenses with insurance could include doctor visit copays and, if surgery is required, coinsurance of 30 percent or more. For non-surgical treatment, costs could be $100 or less, but for surgical treatment the total could reach thousands of dollars, or the yearly out-of-pocket maximum,.
What should be included: | - For non-surgical treatment, the doctor typically will fit the patient with an arm sling or a brace and prescribe pain relievers. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers an overview of non-surgical treatment for a broken collarbone.
- For surgical treatment, the doctor typically will make an incision and implant metal pins, a plate or other hardware to hold the bones in place during healing.
Additional costs: | - Going to an emergency room for treatment initially could add $1,000 or more to the final bill; costs could include an emergency room visit fee and an emergency room doctor fee.
- For patients who have a broken bone treated surgically, metal hardware usually can be left in, unless it causes irritation in the future; if removal is required, it can cost between about $2,533 and $11,710 or more, according to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Discounts: | |
Shopping for a broken clavicle: | - The general practitioner can refer the patient to a specialist. Or, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery offers an orthopedic surgeon finder by city, state or zip code. For a sports injury, another option is to seek treatment from a sports medicine specialist, which could be either a family physician or an orthopedic surgeon; the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine has a doctor finder.
- If surgery is required, risks include: reaction to anesthesia, infection, blood clots, reaction to hardware and even death.
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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.
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Article updated September 2010 |
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