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 |  | With Insurance: Copays plus Coinsurance |  | Without Insurance: $250-$1,000 |
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A vasectomy is a surgical sterilization procedure usually used by men who are certain they do not want to father any -- or, more often, any more, children. Typically an outpatient procedure, a vasectomy involves cutting the tubes that carry sperm.
Typical costs: |
- For patients not covered by insurance, a vasectomy typically costs $250 to $1,000.
- For patients covered by insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a $10 to $30 copay for the initial consultation and another copay of $10 to $100 for the procedure, or a percentage of the total -- usually 20 percent.
- Vasectomies are covered by about 70 percent of health insurance plans, according to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. According to the Arizona Center for Vasectomy & Urology[1] , insurers that regularly cover vasectomies include PacifiCare, BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare and Medicare. However, plans vary, so it is important to check with your insurer.
Related articles: Vasectomy Reversal, IUD
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What should be included: |
- In a standard vasectomy, the doctor administers local anesthesia, then makes a small incision in the scrotum, cuts the two vas deferens tubes and either ties, stitches or cauterizes them to prevent the passage of sperm.
- In a no-scalpel vasectomy, the doctor uses a small, pointy clamp to poke through the skin of the scrotum and perform the procedure. Usually, there are fewer side effects and it is equally effective.
- In a Vasclip implant procedure, the doctor does not cut the vas deferens tubes, but clips them shut. This procedure is considered less effective than other vasectomy techniques.
- It takes at least three months for semen to become free of sperm, and this must be confirmed with a post-vasectomy analysis at the doctor's office, which usually is included in the vasectomy price.
- Vasectomies are more than 99 percent effective. WebMD[2] offers more information and Planned Parenthood[3] offers an overview of vasectomies.
Additional costs: |
- If you change your mind, vasectomy reversal, which often is not covered by health insurance, can cost $6,000 to $15,000. The success rate -- the percentage of couples who achieve a pregnancy within two years after a vasectomy reversal is only about 52 percent.
Shopping for a vasectomy: |
- A doctor who performs a vasectomy should be a board-certified urologist. The American Urological Association[4] offers a physician locator by zip code, but check to make sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Urology[5] .
- Vasectomy reversals are expensive and not guaranteed to work, so vasectomies are recommended only for men who are absolutely sure they do not want to father any children in the future.
- Some minor bruising and swelling can occur with the procedure. And, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration[6] , risks include pain, bleeding and infection.
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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: JonnyDiesel in Indianapolis, IN. | Posted: August 5th, 2022 12:08PM |
| With or Without Insurance: With | Insurer:: Anthem |
| Policy/Plan:: PPO | Doctor or Clinic: Urology of Indiana |
Was told it would be a small copay. Took time off work, made the trip, sat for 30 minutes and was told I needed to pay $842.39 before they would do the procedure. Did not get it done. |
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| Posted by: Anthony schmidtt in Akron, OH. | Posted: December 2nd, 2021 12:12PM |
| With or Without Insurance: With | Insurer:: Anthem blue cross blue sheild |
| Policy/Plan:: Hsa | Doctor or Clinic: |
Insurance told us it would be $0 as long as the dr is in network we had the insurance pick the dr and set the appointment then when he got there the day of they where saying it was 600 that we owed and we made them bill it to our insurance but had to sign papers saying if anthem wont pay it we will. Insurance is so complicated for no reason its covered when you call but not covered when you get there. Good luck everyone! |
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| Posted by: jayf in Cedar Rapids, IA. | Posted: November 19th, 2020 01:11PM |
| With or Without Insurance: 1,500 | Insurer:: Medicaid |
| Policy/Plan:: blue cross | Doctor or Clinic: planned parenthood |
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| Posted by: Brad L. in Ann Arbor, MI. | Posted: September 20th, 2018 05:09PM |
| With or Without Insurance: With | Insurer:: Blue Cross Blue Shield |
| Policy/Plan:: HMO | Doctor or Clinic: university of michigan urology |
I called the urologist's billing department and they told me my out of pocket cost would be $700 (my insurance only covered this at 50%). Instead it came out three times that amount. They billed my insurance nearly $5000 for the procedure and I feel mislead. Big mistake to get this done at U of M. |
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| Posted by: Chuck Kollars in Ipswich, MA. | Posted: November 1st, 2016 11:11AM |
Medicare will NOT cover a vasectomy (in fact they are pretty infamous for this, and MediCAID will sometimes cover a vasectomy).
The list of insurance companies on the website of the Arizona practice is those who have certified the Arizona practice to provide whatever urology services they cover, NOT those that will actually cover the cost of a vasectomy. |
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| Posted by: Andy Vas in Nashua, NH. | Posted: August 24th, 2016 06:08AM |
| With or Without Insurance: With | Insurer:: Cigna |
Amount spent includes initial consult. Was surprised that I paid well over the average. That said, no complications = a very happy patient. |
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| Posted by: Robin Marie Cass in grand rapids, MI. | Posted: July 28th, 2015 04:07PM |
| With or Without Insurance: with insurance | Insurer:: blue cross blue shield |
I want another baby but my fiance had a vasectomy and I know want it reversed but paying a lot is not an option |
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| Posted by: zanesolaris in baltimore, MD. | Posted: March 18th, 2015 08:03AM |
| Policy/Plan:: bluecross/ athum | Doctor or Clinic: planed parenthood |
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External Resources: |
- www.vasectomytucson.com/
- www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/vasectomy-14387
- www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/vasectomy-4249.htm
- www.urologyhealth.org/urology/findurologist.cfm
- www.abu.org/generalInformation.aspx
- www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/byAudience/ForWomen/default.htm
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