 | With Health Insurance: $100+ Copay + 10%-50% Coinsurance |
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 | Without Health Insurance: $5,300-$18,000+ |
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| Septoplasty is surgery to correct a crooked, bent or deformed nasal septum, otherwise known as a deviated septum. People with this condition may have trouble breathing, experience frequent nosebleeds, and are more likely to get nasal or sinus infections. The surgery is also used to correct nasal perforation, or a hole in the septum. | | |
| Typical costs: | - According to the Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality, this class of surgery typically costs an average of $10,219. For example, at the Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, NE, septoplasty typically costs $5,397 -$18,299, with an average cost of $7,188.
- The surgery is typically covered by health insurers when it's required to correct a medical problem. Some patients undergo both septoplasty and rhinoplasty at the same time, but most insurers will decline to cover the cosmetic surgery portion of combined procedures. For insured patients, out-of-pocket costs for septoplasty typically consist of a specialist copay, possibly a hospital copay of $100 or more, and coinsurance of 10%-50% for the procedure, which could reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average hospital copay for outpatient surgery is $132 and for inpatient surgery is $232.The average coinsurance rate is 17%-18%.
What should be included: | - Surgery lasts about 1 to 1 1/2 hours and requires local or general anesthesia. Patients typically go home the same day.
- The surgeon will make an incision inside the wall of the nose, lift the mucus membrane and either shape or remove whatever cartilage or bone is creating the problem.
- Afterwards, the mucus membrane will be returned to its rightful position and held in place with stitches, splints, or packing material. The nasal packing will need to be removed within one or two days.
Additional costs: | - According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, a cold compress, about $3 to $20, like the $5 Ace Reusable Cold Compress, may offer relief during recovery. A vaporizer or humidifier may also provide comfort, since patients will have to breathe out of their mouths while recovering from surgery. The cost of a table top or room humidifier depends on factors such as output, size, and additional features and can run from $25 - $100 or more. For example, the Essick Air 2.7 Gallon Tabletop Humidifier, which has a fairly simple design and two-speed motor, costs $36. The Sunpentown Portable Air Cooler with Ionizer, which can be used as a fan or air cooler as well as a humidifier, costs $95.
Discounts: | - Many hospitals offer discounts of 30% of more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. At St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA, for example, patients without health insurance may qualify for a 45% discount off billed charges. They'll also be offered an additional 10% discount if payment is made within 10 days of receiving a bill.
Shopping for septoplasty: | - Septoplasty carries the risks of any major surgery. It may also change in the shape of the nose, cause scarring or affect the sense of smell. MedLinePlus, the National Institutes of Health's website for patients and their families, offers a list of questions about surgery worth asking a doctor.
- The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has a free search tool to help patients find specialists.
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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 February 2012 |
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