Author Topic: Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .  (Read 4472 times)

GaryWNT

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Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .
« on: August 10, 2015, 06:00:27 am »
I'm sure costs must vary according to individual variances, but can anyone offer a range of costs associated with retrosigmoid surgery?
Gary
Sudden hearing loss in left ear 02/15
MRI 07/15 showed 2.5cm AN
CK at Stanford (3 days) 11/16
No change in symptoms (Mild tinnitus, mild balance issues, moderate hearing loss)
1st follow up MRI coming 04/16
some evidence of central necrosis on the treated left acoustic neuroma 05/10/2016

CHD63

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Re: Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2015, 06:08:49 am »
Hi GaryWNT .....

Yes, costs do vary depending upon individual situations and what your financial/insurance situation is.  I know many medical centers will work with patients on financing/insurance issues.  If I were you, I would contact the doctor of my choice and ask their insurance/billing person what to expect.

I have no idea what either one of my surgeries cost since my insurance paid for both except for a relatively small deductible in each case.  I probably have the figures somewhere .....  It is not cheap, I know that.   :(

Clarice
Right MVD for trigeminal neuralgia, 1994, Pittsburgh, PA
Left retrosigmoid 2.6 cm AN removal, February, 2008, Duke U
Tumor regrew to 1.3 cm in February, 2011
Translab AN removal, May, 2011 at HEI, Friedman & Schwartz
Oticon Ponto Pro abutment implant at same time; processor added August, 2011

Jet747

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Re: Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2015, 09:03:47 pm »
It all depends on insurance and in network versus out of network coverage.

I had two RS surgeries May 19 and May 21.

I stayed in ICU 5 days and regular hospital 2 days.

My total bills were around $325,000.

Brain surgeon was $150,000.

Hospital stay was $150,000.

Testing and miscellaneous stuff was $25,000.

Out of pocket I paid $2,000 because I have great insurance and everything was in network.

I'm having gamma knife in October which will be free for me because I've paid my annual deductible already.

If you saw my itemized bills you would understand there is probably no way to predict the cost as each case will have different mitigating factors.

I will say this, before I had the surgery I knew my expense would be $2,000 because the Dr. & hospital pre-checked everything with my insurance.

Good luck!
RS Surgery May 2015

GK Radiation October 2015

https://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=21969.0

GaryWNT

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Re: Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2015, 02:31:04 am »
Thank you, Jet747. That answer is very helpful.
Gary
Sudden hearing loss in left ear 02/15
MRI 07/15 showed 2.5cm AN
CK at Stanford (3 days) 11/16
No change in symptoms (Mild tinnitus, mild balance issues, moderate hearing loss)
1st follow up MRI coming 04/16
some evidence of central necrosis on the treated left acoustic neuroma 05/10/2016

Kerrybr92

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Re: Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2015, 01:22:41 pm »
My surgery was covered by insurance less a little bit out of pocket.  I did see some of the bills though.  I was in surgery for 16 hours, the ICU 1 day and hospital stay for 5. The total was right about $225,000.
Right AN 2.5cm
11/11/11 retrosigmoid surgery Drs. Barker and Mckenna MGH 16 hours
Right SSD, Right sclerel lens from Boston Foundation for Sight
Some facial weakness

leapyrtwins

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Re: Wondering about costs for RS surgery . . .
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2015, 03:58:01 pm »
My retrosigmoid surgery was 7 1/2 hours and 6 nights in the hospital (May 2007).

Cost was more than $100,000 - but nowhere near $200,000

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways