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1-800-952-8444Posted on November 08, 2024
Medical procedures are both physically and fiscally taxing, and costs vary depending on the surgical procedure and who performs it.
With healthcare costs constantly a matter of concern for Americans, we set out to discover the average costs of common medical procedures and surgeries, as well as what U.S. states and facilities charge the highest prices.
The most expensive common surgery is a heart bypass surgery. It is most commonly performed to treat coronary artery disease and it costs $57,128 on average. In Alaska, the surgery costs almost 13 thousand dollars more than the national average ($70,397). Iowa has the best price on average for patients at $49,517.
Cataract surgery is the least expensive on our list with an average cost of about $3,441. In this procedure, a cloudy eye lens is removed and typically replaced with an artificial lens. With either having cataracts or having had surgery to correct it, it is one of the most common and regularly performed surgery.
The most significant difference in costs, besides the specific kind of surgery, relates to whether the surgery takes place at an outpatient facility or a standalone surgery center. Outpatient departments and clinics are usually owned and run by hospitals, while surgery centers operate independently.
Typically, outpatient facilities come with a higher price tag compared to surgery centers. However, they might provide a wider range of support services because of their affiliation with hospitals. An average cost comparison of several common surgeries strongly emphasizes the financial benefit of surgery centers:
The average price of an annual physical may cost more than you think. Alaska leads our nation with the highest cost on average at $502 per annual physical. Conversely, Iowa residents have the cheapest charge at $353 – a fraction (about 30%) of the cost to Alaskans!
Following close behind, New Jersey has the second most expensive annual physical charge at $487; $80 more than the national average. Floridians, on the other hand, are charged $407 on average for the annual physical, which is right at the national average.
Another regularly performed medical procedure is childbirth. Women undergo one of two typical procedures when giving birth which are a cesarean section or a vaginal birth.
Of the two options to give birth, a cesarean section is just marginally more expensive than a vaginal delivery on average. C-sections have a national average price of $3,158 while a vaginal delivery costs around $3,144. Therefore, the average cost of giving birth is $3,148, the average of C-section and vaginal delivery prices. It’s important to note, that these costs do not include the price of anesthesia, imaging, and other fees normally accrued during delivery.
When comparing the cost of giving birth with one’s yearly income, Mississippians spend the highest percentage of their income on giving birth at 6.5%. Residents of Massachusetts, on the other hand, spend 4.6% of their yearly income on giving birth, the lowest rate in the country. The average American spends $1 out of every $20 they earn for a year on giving birth.
The cost of medical procedures can put a significant financial burden on patients who are already dealing with the emotional burden of a health issue. To relieve some of the stress of receiving a medical procedure, the specialized medical malpractice lawyers at Weiss & Paarz have dedicated their careers to helping patients seek justice after suffering catastrophic injuries resulting from medical malpractice. If you believe that you or a family member may be a victim of medical malpractice, contact us to determine if you have a legal cause of action.
The cost of surgery in the United States can vary significantly depending on the type of surgery, location, and whether the patient has insurance. On average, hospital services, which form a large part of surgical costs, account for over 31% of the U.S.’s total healthcare spending, which exceeded $4.3 trillion in 2021. Specifically, the average per-day cost of a hospital stay is around $2,883, but this can range from $1,305 in states like Mississippi to $4,181 in California.
Certain medical procedures stand out due to their complexity, required technology, and the level of expertise needed. One of the most expensive medical procedures is a heart bypass surgery. These costs can be driven by numerous factors, including the duration of the hospital stay and the variability in hospital charge systems.
Insurance coverage can greatly affect the financial impact of medical procedures on patients. On average, health insurance covers 90% or more of hospital stay or surgery expenses. Medicare, for example, typically pays an average of $13,600 for hospital services. However, the uninsured may face significantly higher charges, contributing to the fact that 60%-65% of all U.S. bankruptcies are related to medical expenses.
Hospital costs can vary significantly for many reasons. First, the geographical location plays a substantial role; for instance, urban hospitals often have higher charges than rural ones due to the higher cost of living and operating expenses in cities. Additionally, whether the hospital is part of your insurance network also matters; if it’s not, you might have to pay more. The care setting, such as whether a procedure is performed in an inpatient vs. outpatient setting, also impacts costs. Moreover, the type and intensity of care required can cause variation. It’s also worth noting that the lack of a standardized pricing system in the healthcare industry means that even within the same city, costs can vary widely from one hospital to another.
Paying for medical bills can be tough. If you have insurance, check what it covers and what you have to pay. If you’re not insured or your insurance doesn’t cover everything, hospitals often have plans that might lower your bill or help you pay over time.
For those eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, these programs can offer significant support, especially for surgeries and extended hospital stays. Medicare is known to cover a wide range of healthcare needs for people over 65 and some younger individuals with disabilities, while Medicaid assists low-income individuals and families with their medical expenses. We recommend talking to the hospital’s billing department or a healthcare advisor to understand all your options and find ways to make your bills more manageable.
We gathered a list of common surgeries from Johns Hopkins and a list of non-surgery procedures from Better Health and sourced the cost for each procedure in every U.S. state from Sidecar Health to compare and analyze the cost of 20 total medical procedures. The prices are based on over 1 billion insurance claims (between July 2017 and July 2019) comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of procedures.
Disclaimer: The historical information and specific statistics displayed above are solely designed to provide general knowledge to the public and are being used as a part of attorney marketing. Cited statistics and statements were taken from the research of various independent websites (referenced below). Weiss & Paarz did not take any steps to replicate the findings of any sources used in this infographic, nor were the numbers or results displayed above independently verified by Weiss & Paarz.
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