How much does ablation surgery cost.

If you had ablation surgery for atrial fibrillation, how much did you pay for it? What insurance company did you have and how much did they pay.

I am using Healthnet PPO insurance.

According to my doctor the ablation surgery has a 50 to 60 percent chance of working. If that doesn't work then a second operation would increase it the 70 or 80 percent.

Has anybody here traveled to Mexico or other countries for cheaper surgery.





4 Comments

Costs.

by turboz24 - 2009-05-15 03:05:21

MY ablation surgery for Ventrical Tachycardia cost 30K. This was for general ansthesia as well as all hospital expenses. It was within my 1 year max out of pocket, so I paid 0.00 for the procedure. Mine has been successful 1+ year later.

Question is right up my alley

by Angelie - 2009-05-15 03:05:28

Hey there.

I think I can safely say that I might possibly be the "Ablation Queen" around here.
I have had 5 ablations in the last 6 years. The last 2 being within one month.

An EP study by itself is EASILY $20,000. That's without any ablations.

3D mapping, which is highly used and effective drives the cost up even more.

Most of my EP studies, with 3D mapping and ablations cost about (you might wanna take a seat) $65,000, and that's NOT including the doctor's fee- just the hospital bill by itself.

Please keep in mind that those ablative catheters alone can cost up to 10 grand a piece, and they (at least in my cases) usually use more than one during a case.

You also get charged extra if you're not currently in arrhythmia and the electrophysiologist has to use a drug (usually Isoprel) to induce the arrhythmia to "fix" it.

You will be charged for everything from each medicine that they give you from the pharmacy, the sterile products that they use during your hospital stay, all blood work that was drawn and processed in the hospital lab, the room that you occupied for the 6 hours while you were lying flat recovering (or longer), and even the clippers that the nurse used to shave your hair (which, for me- was always the most humilating part).
That's why it's so expensive..

I'm so glad that I saw your question. Ablations is something I definitely have become quite the expert on......not by choice but I've done whatever I had to do in attempts to "fix" me. I'm too young to just sit around and be old.

I would NOT travel to Mexico for any kind of medical treatment, or anywhere else for that matter. But that's just my opinion. There are enough risks than to risk having it done in another country, where you're not around your family and friends. The US is expensive, I agree, but we do have some highly efficient medical equipment, facilities and doctors to treat cardiac problems. I'm speaking simply from experience, because I've only had procedure done in the States.

Sounds like what you're waying is living with an arrhythmia, or paying a bill. I don't know about you, but if a treatment is successful in the fact that it gets rid of your arrhythmia, or lessens the effects than I would pay anything to try it. Life is too short, and how do you know unless you try.

Keep in mind, it's very difficult to "fix" chronic a-fib, but not entirely impossible. Just one of the toughest for doctors to ablate.

Continue your thoughts about it. Just know after a successful procedure, you'll have your entire life to pay off the bill, but at least you'll be living life, and feeling better. It's all a chance......and everything has it's risk. It's just a matter if it's a chance you're willing to take, and pay for.

Alot to think about.....I know.

ablation

by Vai - 2009-05-17 12:05:29

There are medical tourism advertised in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. An afib ablation cost about US$9K to US$18K, depending on location and hospital of choice. The problem is expenses to get there from the U.S. and being not familiar with the place. Unless you have friends who can help you in these destinations, it might be penny wise pound foolish.

Chronic ablation is not readily fix and there could be a need for repeated ablations, each event about the same price. There is no discount for repeated surgeries. If this happens then doing it overseas, with all the travel and hotel expenses for an extended stay, do not make economic sense.

Statistically the rate of success is
- 50% - 60% success at 1st attempt
- 75% - 80% success at 2nd attempt
- 87% - 93% success at 3rd attempt

Mathematically it works out as each successive attempt builds on the previous surgeries.

When the afib is persistent or chronic there is little choice but to go do the ablations, as that would be the most reasonable way to regain a reasonable life style.
Occasional afib can be just treated with medication.

Health Net sucks

by johnb10000 - 2009-07-01 06:07:48

My surgery is scheduled for July 16 I think. I am still waiting for approval from the insurance company.

There is supposed to be a CT scan done before the surgery. they may not approve the CT scan and I may have get it done at another location approved by the insurance company.

The hospital takes Health Net insurance but the anesthesiologist is contracted out so I have to see if they are covered.

That company's favorite tactic is to claim the Health care provider pays too much and only pay half.

The US health care system is SICKO. (I haven't seen that movie but I am going to see it now)

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