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 |  | With Health Insurance: 10%-20% Copay |  | 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[1] -- 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[2] 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[3] 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[4] .
Related articles: Pacemaker, Heart Rate Monitor, Cholesterol Test, Medicare, Health Insurance
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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[5] . 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[6] 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[7] 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 [8] 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[9] 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[10] .
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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 |
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| Posted by: Lyn Wilson in Summerville, SC. | Posted: October 18th, 2023 11:10AM |
| Cardiologist: Pringle | Medical Center: Trident |
Went to ER becaue of previous chest pains on a Saturday night. Transferred to Trident Monday. Stress test. Exploratory catheter in right arm. s stents placed Thursday. Sent home Friday at lunchtime. Trident billed Medicare $736,000.00 |
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| Posted by: george mitchell in Decatur,, GA. | Posted: June 30th, 2023 05:06AM |
| Cardiologist: Dr.Kumar | Medical Center: V/A Hospital ,Decatur ,Ga. |
One of the best doctors around. People say the V/A doesn't provide excellent health care , well they do for me! |
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| Posted by: RNelson in Fargo nd, ND. | Posted: November 6th, 2021 11:11PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Esentia |
Had a Nstemi. 2 stents. Had a compartment syndrome from catheter in right arm. Had anemia and required 8 units of blood. Had a acute kidney injury. Hospital stay 10 days. Total cost 325,000 |
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| Posted by: Jas D in Surrey, CA. | Posted: July 12th, 2021 01:07PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: PAH, British Columbia, Canada |
Had 4 stents+ angioplasty with 1 night stay in hospital. The cardiologist was amazing, and said it should cost around $ 15,000 but the hospital is charging almost double. Hopefully hospital can correct their mistake. Oh, and the physician fees are not included in the $33,000 amount. |
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| Posted by: a user in Westminster, MD. | Posted: June 7th, 2021 02:06PM |
| Cardiologist: Yes | Medical Center: Carroll Hospital |
ER with Heart Attack symptoms. Next AM had cath lab. 100% blockage. 2 stents. Was released 8 hours later. Less than 48 hours in hospital. Thought is was expensive, but after seeing what other have paid I guess not. Some of these costs are crazy. Health should be universally covered everywhere. |
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| Posted by: Peter Wright in Nelson, Other. | Posted: December 15th, 2020 06:12PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Nelson Public Hospital (New Zealand) |
Four stents, two of them drug eluting, inserted as day surgery following angina and breathlessness two months. Chest xray, exercise ecg. In hospital 8 hours. Didn't have to change out of my street clothes. Back to mountainbiking the next day. All paid for by our public health system (ie taxation) |
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| Posted by: Bigby Short in Framingham, MA. | Posted: November 20th, 2019 12:11PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: MetroWest |
This isn't the final bill - but the first claims submission, so the price will likely come down to what insurance allows, but if you can avoid it - eat healthy, stop smoking and lose weight. It may be difficult, but paying 2 years' median family salary for a 45 minute surgery is much more painful! |
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| Posted by: Cc56 in Cleveland, OH. | Posted: November 7th, 2019 04:11PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Cleveland Clinic |
Exactly 25 hours in the hospital. Went in after abnormal stress test. Was scheduled not rushed in. Insurance negotiates 55,000. My coinsurance about 4000 (after meeting 5,000 deductible). (Wife’s emergency Csection with 6 day stay for jaundice - 24k?!) |
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| Posted by: Benjamin Guy-Williams in Samutprakan, AL. | Posted: October 29th, 2019 11:10PM |
| Cardiologist: Dr Narin | Medical Center: Thainakarin Hospital Bangna, Bangkok |
This is the complete bill - from an Ambulance taking me to hospital, 5 minutes in Accident & Emergency and immediate transfer to the OR.
2 stents were implanted, one night in ICU and 2 nights observation.
Nice modern equipment - robotic machines mean the X-rays come to you.
This is in Thailand, not far from the main Airport. |
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| Posted by: bm in san antonio, TX. | Posted: July 25th, 2019 09:07AM |
| Cardiologist: none | Medical Center: northeast baptist hospital |
3 stents in superior mesenteric artery by hospital interventional radiologist. 8 days in hospital.1 blood transfusion. |
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| Posted by: Good to be alive in Monteria, Colombia, Other. | Posted: March 24th, 2019 08:03AM |
| Cardiologist: Yes | Medical Center: Private Clinic |
Entered emergancy with chest pain. 1 night in the emeegancy room getting meds.The next morning I received 1 long stent. 1 night in intensive care. 1 more night in a normal clinic room. My insurrance paid 100%. My Insurrance cost $40.00 per month. |
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| Posted by: Bruce Elliott Byers in Asheville, NC. | Posted: November 27th, 2018 01:11PM |
| Cardiologist: $3,000 | Medical Center: $62,000; Mission Health |
Please tell me how much your hospital billed, and how much it accepted from your insurance company for your catheter/stent procedure. |
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| Posted by: a user in chester, PA. | Posted: August 28th, 2018 12:08PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: crozer medical |
15 min in er then right into operating room. Was in my room 2 hours later, signed myself out ama next day.
er rns $100.00 per hour allow $400
operating room 2 rns x 2hour allow $400
Doctor allow?
1 night stay allow?
stent plus various drugs allow?
4 page bill |
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| Posted by: DRS in Burnsville, MN. | Posted: August 18th, 2018 02:08PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Fairview Hospital |
This was the total charge for my 2 days of stay at the hospital. I was taken aback at the total cost. Luckily my insurance will cover practically all of it. I have asked for an itemized bill to get a better idea how the charges are distributed. |
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| Posted by: Liesbert Kuipers in League City, TX. | Posted: August 9th, 2018 08:08AM |
| Cardiologist: Netherlands | Medical Center: Netherlands |
I had a heart catheresation and 2 stents placed during my holiday in the Netherlands this year 2018. I was insured with Alianz for 12 weeks. It costed Alianz 4000 euro I paid 64,00 dollar on insurance. |
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| Posted by: David P in Wigan UK, Other. | Posted: April 11th, 2018 04:04AM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Public hospital, Shanghai |
Heart attack. 24hrs emergency ward, 10 days intensive care cardiac unit. Everything world class but 100% in Mandarin which made it a little difficult for a non-chinese speaking Brit |
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| Posted by: Steve Linscome in Stockton, CA. | Posted: July 18th, 2017 12:07PM |
| Cardiologist: N/A | Medical Center: St. Joseph, Stockton, CA, USA |
10 hour wait in ER. 99% blockage. Procedure next morning (through wrist). Released following afternoon. Total time at hospital, less than 48 hrs. Insurance through work with Kaiser Ins. My share total was $1,300 of the $81,000 billed to insurance. (By comparison, a friend's wife "c section" had about a $24,000 bill for about 5 day stay.) |
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| Posted by: Chris L. in LaCrosse, WI. | Posted: July 5th, 2017 11:07PM |
| Cardiologist: Anonym. | Medical Center: Mayo Clinic, LaCross WI |
This is why Insurance is bankrupting America. Cardio surgeon had @ $500,000.00/yr salary and still commanded a $60,000.00 surgical fee for @40 min work. Great, skilled man, grateful patient, but if you had informed me and my family ahead of time of the costs..... I'd be at home with the Lord. This is GREED and ASSININE!There is NO excuse for this... these people and organizations should be ashamed.... |
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| Posted by: Seth Rand in Dallas, TX. | Posted: May 8th, 2017 04:05PM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Parkland Hospital |
Presented to ER as aborted sudden death. My Obamacare insurance disallowed all but ~$38,000 and I had to pay a $1,200 deductible. Great staff and care. Happy to be alive though really glad I'm not on the hook for $158,000. |
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| Posted by: a user in Ocala, FL. | Posted: October 22nd, 2016 07:10AM |
| Cardiologist: | Medical Center: Monroe Regional |
We did not know our insurance would not pay for this and we were not given the discounted rate for the insurance. They have a lawsuit against us now because we could not meet there demand if pay it in full in one year. |
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| Posted by: S.W.T. in Covington, LA. | Posted: January 7th, 2016 11:01PM |
| Cardiologist: Aduli | Medical Center: Louisiana Heart Hospital |
I went in at 5AM, had the procedure done, as an outpatient and was back home by 6PM the same day. No overnight stay in hospital. I now have platinum "jewelry" in my heart. |
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External Resources: | - www.heart.org
- www.wipricepoint.org/Basic_OPS.aspx
- www.consumerhealthratings.com/index.php?action=showSubCats&cat_id=179
- www.healthcarebluebook.com/page_AdditionalPriceRsrcs.aspx
- www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/treatment-angioplasty-stents
- media.staywellcustomweb.com/GSAnimations/player/sw_gui2_player.html?id=stnt
- www.medmovie.com/mmdatabase/MediaPlayer.aspx?ClientID=68&TopicID=747
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stents/
- health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/search?city=City&zip=ZIP+Code&state=&sort_by=name...
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