 | With Health Insurance: Copay + 10%-50% of Procedure Cost |
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 | Without Health Insurance: $10,000-$20,000+ |
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| A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus and might include removal of the cervix, the ovaries and even part of the vagina. A hysterectomy can be done to treat cancer or a number of other conditions, including abnormal bleeding, chronic pain, endometriosis and fibroid tumors. Risks include reaction to anesthesia, infection, bleeding, injury to internal organs and early menopause. | | |
| Typical costs: | - For patients covered by health insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would include a doctor-visit copay, possibly a hospital admission copay of $100 or more and coinsurance of 10% to 50% for the procedure. A hysterectomy typically is covered by health insurance when recommended by a doctor as medically necessary.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, a hysterectomy typically costs from $10,000 -$20,000 or more. For example, at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, NE, a vaginal hysterectomy with or without removal of tubes and ovaries, typically costs about $6,800 -$13,400, not including doctor fee, which typically adds several thousand dollars to the cost. A laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy, including removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries, typically costs about $10,750 -$21,750. And Wright Medical Center in Iowa charges about $15,500 for an abdominal hysterectomy, including a doctor fee of about $2,250. Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Hawaii charges about $15,300 -$17,800 with an uninsured discount; however, charges can increase to about $23,700 or more if the surgery is for cancer. And Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis charges about $17,500 for a traditional or laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy with removal of tubes/ovaries and $19,200 for a total abdominal hysterectomy.
What should be included: | - There are three types of hysterectomy: partial, in which the upper portion of the uterus is removed but the cervix is left in the body; total, in which the uterus and the cervix are removed; and radical, which usually is done for cancer, in which the uterus, cervix, tissue on both sides of the cervix and upper portion of the vagina are removed. Depending on the reason the hysterectomy is being done, the doctor might recommend removing the ovaries and/or fallopian tubes as well.
- Hysterectomies can be performed in several ways: abdominally, in which the doctor makes an incision in the abdomen or vaginally, in which the doctor goes up through the vagina to remove the uterus. They can also be done with traditional surgical methods or laparoscopically, which is less invasive.
- A traditional hysterectomy requires four to six weeks of recovery, while a minimally invasive hysterectomy, such as one done laparscopically, typically requires three to four weeks of recovery.
- WomensHealth.gov has a fact sheet on the hysterectomy procedure.
Additional costs: | - If the ovaries are removed, the patient will enter menopause after a hysterectomy, regardless of age. Often, hormone replacement therapy, which can cost $10 -$85 a month, is recommended.
Discounts: | |
Shopping for a hysterectomy: | - A hysterectomy should be performed by a board-certified gynecologist with extensive experience performing hysterectomies. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers a doctor finder by state; make sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Patients planning to have a specific type of hysterectomy, for example, laparoscopic, should ask how many similar operations the doctor has performed.
- If the hysterectomy is being performed due to cancer, or if it is suspected that a woman having a hysterectomy could have cancer, a board-certified gynecologic oncologist should perform the surgery. The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation offers a gynecologic oncologist finder. Gynecologic oncology is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology; it requires board-certification plus three to four years of additional training and certification in the subspecialty after taking a rigorous exam.
- It is generally recommended that a woman get a second opinion before making a decision about whether to have a hysterectomy.
- HysterSisters.com offers information, support and discussion forums for women who are considering or have had a hysterectomy.
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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 June 2011 |
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