 | With Health Insurance: Copay + 10%-50% Coinsurance |
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 | Without Health Insurance: $7,000-$15,000+ |
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| Simple functional ovarian cysts -- which form during ovulation -- are common in reproductive-age women, and often resolve without treatment. But surgery might be recommended if a cyst does not go away, is very large, is causing severe symptoms, or does not seem to be a simple functional cyst and/or is suspected to be cancerous. | | |
| Typical costs: | - For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for ovarian cyst removal typically would consist of a doctor visit copay and coinsurance of 10-50% or more. Ovarian cyst removal is typically covered by health insurance when medically necessary.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, ovarian cyst removal typically costs about $7,000 -$15,000 or more. For example, Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Nebraska charges about $6,500 -$9,700, not including doctor fee, for unilateral or bilateral removal of ovarian cysts. And Baptist Memorial Health Care in Tennessee charges about $9,200, not including doctor fee. And the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Hawaii charges about $10,500. The doctor fee can add several thousand dollars to the final bill.
What should be included: | - In a laparoscopic ovarian cyst removal, which is typically used for a smaller simple functional cyst when cancer is not suspected, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. Then the doctor makes several small incisions, inserts a laparoscope and surgical instruments, and removes the cyst. The surgery typically is outpatient, and the patient can go back to work within a day -- or, if strenuous physical activity is required, a week.
- In a laparotomy -- open surgery that might be done for very large cysts, cysts on both ovaries or when cancer is suspected -- the patient is placed under general anesthesia. The doctor then makes an incision on the patient's abdomen and looks at the ovaries. If necessary, a sample can be taken for biopsy during surgery. The doctor then removes the cyst and, if necessary, the ovary or ovaries. The surgery is done on an inpatient basis with a hospital stay of two or more days. Full recovery takes six weeks or longer.
- WebMD Women's Health offers an overview of ovarian cyst removal and information on laparoscopic vs. open abdominal surgery.
Additional costs: | - For patients who repeatedly get functional ovarian cysts -- cysts that form from the egg sac during ovulation -- a doctor might prescribe birth control pills, which cost about $20 -$50 a month.
Discounts: | |
Shopping for ovarian cyst removal: | - Ovarian cyst removal should be done by a board-certified gynecologist. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers a doctor finder by state, and board certification can be verified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. If a cyst might be cancerous, the surgery should be performed by a gynecologic oncologist. The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation offers a gynecologic oncologist finder.
- Gynecologic oncology is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that requires three to four years of additional training, and a rigorous exam, to receive certification.
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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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