Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• Because TIA requires immediate evaluation, a patient experiencing it will typically need to be taken to the emergency room at the first sign of symptoms^[1] or be transported there by ambulance.
• For patients without health insurance, an emergency room visit typically costs $150-$3,000 or more, depending on the severity of the condition and what diagnostic tests and treatment are performed. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket cost for an emergency room visit typically consists of a copay, usually $50 -$150 or more, which often is waived if the patient is admitted to the hospital. Depending on the plan, costs might include coinsurance of 10%-50%.
• Treatment for TIA centers on pinpointing the cause and decreasing the likelihood of an acute stroke. Doctors will typically administer antiplatelet drugs^[2] which include the drug clopidogrel (Plavix)^[3] . According to Consumer Reports^[4] , these drugs range in cost from $1 - $264 or more per month depending on the drug and whether a brand or generic is selected. Plavix typically costs $254 for one 75-mg pill per day.

• To determine possible causes of symptoms and develop a full stroke-prevention plan, a patient will likely undergo tests^[5] , including a physical exam, blood tests ($8-$150), a CT scan ($50-$1,000), or an MRI ($1,000-$5,000 or more), among other things.

• If a TIA is caused by a blockage in the carotid artery--the main artery located in the neck--a doctor may recommend a carotid endarterectomy^[6] , a preventive procedure that clears fatty deposits from carotid arteries. Researchers^[7] have found that the procedure typically ranges in cost from $9,500 -$11,500.
• In addition to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, and medications to prevent blood from clotting, a doctor may recommend that, as a preventive measure, a patient undergo treatment with angioplasty and stents, which are typically $11,000 -$41,000 or more, depending on the type of stent and length of hospital stay.

• Discount outlets such as Costco^[8] and Walmart^[9] often sell prescription and over-the-counter drugs at significant savings. Walmart, for example, has a prescription drug program^[10] that includes certain generic drugs at commonly prescribed dosages.
• Many hospitals offer discounts of 30% of more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. At St. Joseph Hospital^[11] in Orange, CA, for example, patients without health insurance may qualify for a 45% discount off billed charges. They'll also be offered an additional 10% discount if payment is made within 10 days of receiving a bill.

• The National Stroke Association offers tools and resources^[12] regarding TIA and preventing stroke.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a hospital comparison tool^[13] that lists hospitals near a chosen zip code, how far away they are and whether they offer emergency service.

1.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/transient-ischemic-attack/DS00220/DSECTION=symptoms
2.  www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300338.pdf
3.  www.drugs.com/plavix.html
4.  www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Antiplatelets-2pagers-...
5.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/transient-ischemic-attack/DS00220/DSECTION=tests%2Dand%2...
6.  www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/carotid_endarterectomy_backgrounder.htm
7.  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11823682
8.  www2.costco.com/Service/FeaturePage.aspx?ProductNo=11486072
9.  www.walmart.com/cp/5431?povid=cat1070145-env172199-module051812-lLinkGNAV_PHARMACY...
10.  www.walmart.com/cp/1078664
11.  www.sjo.org/For-Patients/Your-Hospital-Bill/Self-Pay-Discount-Program.aspx
12.  www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TIA
13.  www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/(S(efntd2saaeir2l5pgarwuvvg))/search.aspx?AspxAut...

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Does a Knee Brace Cost?		How Much Does an Emergency Room Visit Cost?		How Much Does an X-Ray Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

In case signing up was a resolution, we cover the cost of diet plans. Need help uncovering your driveway? You may need a snow removal service. The CDC recommends it is more important than ever to get a flu shot this year. Be ready if the worst weather hits -- a portable generator means fewer power outages. Garden all winter long with an indoor greenhouse.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Radiologist Fee Paid: 350.00 Any radiologist reading your mammogram will be at least $350. They have 11-13 years of training after high school before they begin work. If they are not board certified, watch out. Most are and it beats getting cancer... [more] -Lowes Fan Mammogram Cost DIY Ceiling Paid: 50.00 We bought a house with a cheap paint job. The ceilings were sprayed the same color as the walls. During COVID I painted the ceilings and a bathroom. A 120 square foot room took me about 4 hours (2 coats)... [more] -Lowes Fan Painting an Interior Cost DIY vs Installed Small Deck Paid: 3000.00 We paid $1300 for materials and $1700 for labor on a 100 square foot composite deck plus a redwood gate. It took 30 hours, done last year. My husband built a 100 sf heart redwood deck for about $1000 in materials in 2019... [more] -Lowe's Fan Redwood Deck Cost Colposcopy with biopsy Paid: 756.00 This service was wayy to expensive in my opinion. For a 20-25 minute total visit I had to pay out of pocked 756 - 187 to OBGYN, 229 to pathologist, then 340$ for facility fee or the hospital. I don't even know what that charge was for... [more] -D S Colposcopy Cost Bilateral Diagnostic Mammogram and Third Mammogram Paid: 1389.66 My 2021 bill, still in shock! Weill Cornell, in-network provider, billed my insurance $908 for a bilateral diagnostic mammogram, and $712 for a third mammogram one breast... [more] -GinaF Mammogram Cost shoulder mri Paid: 8000.00 Seriously, 8K for an MRI before all the secret insurance kicks in. I was stuck with a 1200 bill and my insurance is pretty good. This is insane for a 20 minute procedure with no nurse assistance... [more] -stevej45 MRI Cost