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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copay + 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | 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[1] 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[2] in Hawaii charges about $10,500. The doctor fee can add several thousand dollars to the final bill.
Related articles: Birth Control Pills, Anesthesia, Health Insurance
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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[3] and information on laparoscopic vs. open abdominal surgery[4] .
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: |
- Many hospitals and doctors give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System[5] in California offers a 35% discount. And Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children[6] offers a discount of 40% for uninsured patients if full payment is made within 30 days, or 30% if payment is made within 90 days.
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[7] , and board certification can be verified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology[8] . If a cyst might be cancerous, the surgery should be performed by a gynecologic oncologist. The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation offers a gynecologic oncologist finder[9] .
- Gynecologic oncology[10] 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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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: San Franciscan in San Francisco, CA. | Posted: August 28th, 2015 07:08PM |
| Practitioner: Pacific Women's Ob Gyn | Medical Center: California Pacific Medical Center |
Insurance was billed for approximately $17,000. The mentioned fee was only for the surgeon, facility charges and one night in the hospital. I received separate bills for the anesthesiologist, the assisting gynecologist and pathologist. The above figure includes my Blue Cross $2500 copay and the doctors fees. Outrageous? |
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| Posted by: curious in Los Angeles, CA. | Posted: November 8th, 2014 08:11PM |
my wife had a cyst removal back in Feb 2014, The doctor charged us $2,900 and said she will bill the insurance. Today I received notification from the insuarance that she billed $49,000 and received almost $10,000
She also did the surgery at an outside private surgical center as the hospital had a waiting list. Later we found out the hospital had no waiting list and she is a partner/owner in the private surgical center.
Do you think she should refund the $2,900 she charged us. |
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External Resources: |
- tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
- www.kapiolani.org/women-and-children/my-hospital-bill/uninsured-calculator.aspx
- women.webmd.com/surgery-for-ovarian-cysts
- women.webmd.com/laparoscopic-surgery-versus-abdominal-surgery-for-ovarian-cysts
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.kapiolani.org/women-and-children/my-hospital-bill/payment-policy-uninsured.aspx
- www.acog.org/About_ACOG/Find_an_Ob-Gyn
- www.abog.org/
- www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/find-a-gynecologic-oncologist/
- www.certificationmatters.org/abms-member-boards/obstetrics-and-gynecology.aspx
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