The heart valve replacement surgery is covered by various insurance companies in order to lessen the amount of payment. The costs related to in may include-
Doctor Fee: When the patient is covered by insurance, some of the amount of the heart valve replacement surgery is paid by the insurance company. The patient essentially has to think about the payments for visits to the doctor and the medications which will be prescribed. Apart from this, a co-insurance of 10%-15% may have to be fulfilled by the patient for the surgery.
Surgery: When the case is like the patient does not have any benefit of insurance, the surgery may cost around $80,000 to $200,000 on an average. This will cover just the surgery. Additional charges of the doctor fee along with the diagnostic reports may cost on an average of $10,000. It should be noted that this is an average and the real cost depends on the hospital a patient will be visiting along with the group of doctors which the patient has to refer.
Complications: At most, the cost can also go up to $200,000 in case of major complications related to the surgery. With respect to various researches, it has been seen that complications include injections in the heart and other lung problems or pneumonia.
What are the Amenities Included In The Cost Of The Replacement Surgery?
Typically, excluding the doctor’s fee, the cost of the surgery may include the following procedures-
General Anesthesia: In a typical heart valve replacement surgery, the patient has to undergo general anesthesia because it will include the use of a machine which will perform all the function of the heart during the surgery.
Valve Replacement: The surgeon so responsible will remove the damaged valve from the heart in order to replace it with the new one.
ICU Stay: Once the surgery is done, the recovery process will include observation of the patient in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for few days. Once everything is under normal, the patient may be shifted to general ward for another few days in case there is a risk of complications to arise. On an average, the patient may be required to stay in the hospital for a week or so. Sometimes, the patient may be required to stay under observation for over a week depending on the risks of complications associated with the surgery.
What are the Additional Costs the Patient Has to Be Aware of In Case Of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
The patient may have to keep in mind, certain additional costs which may be required-
Dentist Fee: In case of a risk of oral bacteria to cause on the replaced valve, the patient may have to go to the dentist for thorough checkup.
Physical Therapy (PT): After the surgery is done, the doctor may recommend the patient to go for physical therapy in order to get back to normal life. The patient is taught various exercises which help in recovering better. Such therapies may cost around $50 to$350 per sitting, depending on the general health of the patient.
Medicines: In case the new replaced heart valve is a mechanical one, the patient may have to take blood thinners for the rest of his life to avoid blood clots. Depending on the brand and the dosage of such medications, it may cost anywhere around $50-$200 every month.
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