Broken Hand Cost

Typical costs:

• Without health insurance, diagnosis and treatment for a broken hand typically includes the cost of the X-ray, a facility fee and a doctor fee for a typical total of $6,000 or more for non-surgical treatment and from $7,000 to $15,000 or more if surgery is required. A hand X-ray costs an average of $180, according to NewChoiceHealth.com^[1] , but some providers charge $1,000 or more. Non-surgical treatment of a broken hand costs $4,100 to $5,100, not including the doctor fee, and surgical treatment costs $5,800 to $13,700, not including the doctor fee, according to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center^[2] in Lincoln, Nebraska. A typical doctor fee for non-surgical treatment of a fracture would include $90 to $200 for an office visit and could also include $250 to $950 for a procedure, such as realignment, or $2,000 or more for surgery, according to Carolina Orthopaedic Surgery Associates^[3] .
• Treatment for a broken hand is typically covered by health insurance. A patient with insurance would typically have to pay for an X-ray copay, an office visit copay and coinsurance of 10% to 50% for the procedure. The cost could reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum, especially if surgery is required.

• In most cases, the doctor will perform a physical exam and check for nerve damage, then, using local anesthesia, will realign the bones and apply a splint, brace or cast that might extend up the forearm and stay in place three to six weeks.
• In some cases, especially if the bone has been crushed, a surgeon might have to use general anesthesia and surgically insert wires, plates or other hardware to hold the bones in place during healing.
• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons^[4] offers an overview of treatment for a broken hand.

• Going to an emergency room for initial treatment could add a $500 emergency room visit fee to the total bill.
• Some physical therapy might be required, at $50 to $75 or more per session, to regain function in the hand after healing.

• Some hospitals and orthopedic and other specialists offer discounts for uninsured/cash paying patients. For example, the Southern California Orthopedic Institute offers discounted services for cash-paying patients, and the Northwest Community Hospital Orthopedic Services Center^[5] , in Chicago, offers discounts for prompt payment.
• Some free clinics, such as the Community Health Free Clinic^[6] in Chicago, offer orthopedic specialty care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services^[7] offers a directory of federally funded health centers. These centers are open to anyone and fees are charged on a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends contacting clinics directly for specific information on their discount policies. If the nearest clinic doesn't offer orthopedic care, ask for a referral.

• An orthopedic surgeon or a hand surgeon -- who could be an orthopedic surgeon, a plastic surgeon or a general surgeon -- would treat a broken hand. A sports medicine doctor also could treat a sports-related injury. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery^[8] offers an orthopedic specialist finder by city, state or zip code. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand^[9] offers a surgeon locator, but it is important to verify that the doctor is board-certified in either orthopedic (The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery^[10] ), plastic (The American Board of Plastic Surgery^[11] ) or general (The American Board of Surgery^[12] ) surgery. Or, the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine^[13] offers a doctor locator; it is important to check board certification.

1.  www.newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/101/Hand%20X-Ray
2.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
3.  www.c-osa.com/charges.htm
4.  orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00010
5.  www.nch.org/medical-services/orthopedic-services/index.php
6.  www.communityhfc.org/referals.htm
7.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
8.  www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx
9.  www.assh.org/Public/Pages/HandSurgeons.aspx
10.  www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx
11.  /www.abplsurg.org/ModDefault.aspx?section=PubFind
12.  home.absurgery.org/app.jsp?type=vc&id=27
13.  www.aoasm.org/find-a-do/

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