A health procedure like a knee surgery is unfortunately very expensive and if health insurance is not covering it, it can be a financial burden on the patient and his or her family. In this article, we will know about the cost of a knee surgery with relation to no insurance provided.
When it comes to surgeries, affordability doesn’t matter a lot, especially if the person needs it urgently. More than affordability, it is the question of how beneficial the surgery will be for the patient. Nevertheless, for most of us, the cost of a surgery can be a major hurdle due to strict financial constraints. Knee surgery stands out as an operation whose costs are very high. Moreover, if you don’t have medical health insurance, all the costs will have to be managed by you, making it a significant financial burden. The case would be otherwise, if you have good financial back up or you have saved enough money for emergency situations.
Type of Knee Surgery & Cost Variations
The type of surgery an individual chooses to go for determines the knee surgery cost. If the surgery requires knee replacement, then, without insurance, it will cost anywhere between $30,000 to $70,000. It is a fact that knee replacement surgery is one of the most expensive operations in the US. The arthroscopy knee surgery method, a minimally invasive process, can cost around $20,000 to $50,000.
How Much Does Knee Surgery Cost without Insurance
The amount of money individuals with health insurance policies have to pay out of their pockets will depend on the type of health insurance and its features. In general, if anybody is covered under good medical insurance policies, in case of knee replacement surgery, the individual will have to pay at least, $4000 to $6,000, from his pocket. In other cases, like that of the arthroscopy knee operation, an individual having health insurance schemes may have to pay anywhere between $2000 to $3000. It is essential for patients and their families to make a note of the point that higher the cost of the expenses incurred in the surgery, higher can be the amount they have to pay out of their hard-earned money.
Patients who don’t have medical insurance will need to pay all the costs on their own, though they may negotiate with hospital administration for some rebate or extended periods of payments. But almost all hospitals will expect the patient to have a medical insurance so that none of the parties have issues while providing treatment. For patients who don’t have any means of health insurance, it can be financially difficult to manage a high knee surgery cost. Many industry experts suggest that with the boom in medical tourism all across the globe, US citizens who are already burdened with financial priorities can head towards countries like India, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand for expensive treatments. In these countries, the cost of knee surgeries is way lower than the US. A surgery costing $45,000 – $70,000 in the US, will only require $7,000 to $14,000 in lndia! Due to such lower prices, even traveling expenses and accommodation costs can be easily managed.
If an individual needs knee surgery however, he doesn’t have any insurance cover, it is advisable to consult a hospital for discounted rates. There are many hospitals where the high cost of knee surgery is discounted on certain terms and conditions. For older people, medicare policies do provide a cover for knee surgeries so if they have them, it is good to rely on such government schemes. The best option for managing surgery costs without any issues is to fly away to cheaper medical tourism destinations like India or Singapore. After all, without health insurance plans, going for expensive treatments is quite an illogical step.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is just for informational purposes and doesn’t specify the exact cost of a knee surgery without insurance. Costs may vary significantly, depending on location of hospital, the nation and other factors. Individuals are advised to discuss the cost factor with their medical expert.
