 | With Health Insurance: 10%-20% Copay |
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 | Without Health Insurance: $11,000-$41,000+ |
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| Coronary stents are small mesh metal tubes that support weakened arteries in the heart. There are two types of stents -- so-called bare metal stents and stents coated with medication -- and they are surgically placed by specialized cardiologists as part of a procedure called an angioplasty. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Look for separate charges from the hospital, doctors and laboratory. For patients without health insurance, total costs are typically $11,000 -$41,000 or more, depending on the type of stent and length of hospital stay. Legacy Health, an operator of hospitals and clinics in Portland, OR, charges $11,298 -$36,221 for an average heart stent placement surgery; the company reported an average charge of $36,221. At Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Wisconsin, placement of one cardiac stent that is coated with long-release medication to prevent scar tissue from reclogging the artery carries a median hospital charge of $41,228, according estimates from the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
- Costs for patients with insurance may include a deductible, plus 10%-20% of the total bill for the procedure. In addition, hospitals often accept amounts less than their charge as payment in full from patients with health insurance plans that have negotiated lower rates, or from the government's Medicare program for elderly and some disabled Americans and its Medicaid program for the poor.
- Charges are typically higher than the actual rate the hospital collects. Hospital bills include charges for estimated room and board, related medical supplies and medications, nursing care, equipment use, meals/nutrition and other services provided within the hospital. Physicians charge separately for services they provide during a hospital stay, while lab and radiology service providers also bill separately for reading and interpreting exams and lab work, says a representative for Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA. Billed charges can be up to 10 times higher than the amount the provider typically accepts, according to consumer resource online publication HealthCare Bluebook.
What should be included: | - Patients are evaluated with a cardiac catheterization procedure, where an interventional/specialized cardiologist uses x-rays and special dye to determine if there's a blockage. The blockage is then cleared with a balloon-tipped catheter during angioplasty. Once cleared, a stent -- a tiny metal scaffold that locks in place to bolster the artery's weakened section -- is inserted, where it stays permanently.
- The Oregon Health & Science University's patient video explains why cardiac stents are needed and demonstrates the surgical procedure used to place them in the body.
- The American Heart Association carries an illustration of a heart stent procedure and explains how medicated stents, used in the majority of heart stent surgeries, can prevent future fatty plaque buildup inside the artery.
Discounts: | - Some hospitals and orthopedic specialists offer discounts for uninsured/cash paying patients. For example, the Washington Hospital Healthcare System in California offers a 35% discount for uninsured patients as well as a financial assistance program for qualifying uninsured patients.
Shopping for a heart stent: | - The federal National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains the medical conditions that heart stents can treat, what to expect during and after surgery and stent-related health risks.
- A surgeon's experience can be a major factor in any operation's success, so thoroughly review a physician's credentials. Often the website of the hospital where they practice provides information about its doctors' education and expertise, as many insurance firms do for doctors in their network.
- U.S. News & World Report lists top hospitals for heart surgery.
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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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