How Much Does a Hysterectomy Cost?
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure designed to remove the uterus and in some cases, the cervix, ovaries and even part of the vagina as well in the case of endometriosis or cancer.
Done for a variety of reasons, the most common cause is due to either cancer, abnormal bleeding, chronic pain or endometriosis, to name a few.
The average cost of a hysterectomy
The costs of a hysterectomy, as with any surgical procedure, will depend on your geographical location, the type of hysterectomy, the facility, the surgeon performing the surgery and the inclusions in the bill. For those who do not have health insurance, the costs we found online ranged anywhere from $8,000 to more than $24,000, but for those who did have a policy, the costs would greatly depend on the health insurance policy as they all greatly vary. The costs could be much higher if you needed to include indirect costs such as the ambulatory procedure room, recovery room, additional hospital stays and anesthesia.
The average total costs of a hysterectomy, as per an Amino.com study, was $9,388, and this cost estimate was based on your location, the insurance coverage and the doctor.
HealthGrades.com notes all hysterectomy procedures are not created equally and you should be prepared to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $11,000 for a more invasive surgery, while those with cancer could see prices in the $7,600 to $12,400 range.
In this Journal of Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons medical study, the results found the mean total patient costs were $43,622 for abdominal and $49,526 for robotic hysterectomies and the costs were influenced by the type of hysterectomy, operative time and the length of time.
| Type of Hysterectomy | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Abdominal Hysterectomy | $10,000 to $19,000 |
| Laparoscopic hysterectomy | $8,000 to $14,000 |
| Vaginal Hysterectomy | $8,000 to $18,000 |
| Da Vinci Hysterectomy | $8,000 to $14,000 |
Factors affecting the price
The type of surgery you have – As you can see in our table above, the type of hysterectomy will greatly affect the price of your surgery. The costs greatly depend on how long the surgery is going to take, the type of tools used and how much anesthesia you need.
Geographical location – As with just about anything in life, your geographical region where the hysterectomy is performed can affect the cost. An area with a lot of competition may have lower prices, even though it’s in a high-cost area, while a smaller city center with only one option may have higher costs due to the lack of the competition.
Insurance – Even with health insurance, you will find your price could be much different than the same patient at the same hospital. As all health insurance companies have agreed upon rates, in the end, you will be responsible for your deductible, co-pays, co-insurance, if it’s network, and the rate your insurance company haggled.
Anesthesia – With most of the procedures, anesthesia will be required, and seeing it is billed by the hour, the more you need, the more you will pay. Also, most hospital/surgical facilities will send a separate anesthesiologist bill.
The hospital/facility – All hospitals will vary with pricing as some may charge a bit less if they perform a lot of them annually, while others may charge if they do not do as many. Talk with your local hospital over the phone as many are willing to give you at least a ballpark estimate before you commit to the surgery.
Types of hysterectomy procedures
Abdominal hysterectomy – This surgery, designed to remove either all or part of your uterus, is the most common type of hysterectomy performed by either a gynecologist or general surgeon. During this surgical procedure, an incision, about seven inches long, either vertical or horizontal, depending on the reason for the surgery, is created in the abdomen. Once all or part of the uterus is removed, stitches are used and most patients find themselves staying in the hospital for up to seven days.
Laparoscopic hysterectomy – A minimally invasive procedure, a laparoscopic hysterectomy will remove the uterus via numerous tiny incisions created to insert a tool known as a laparoscope, a device which is a miniature lighted tube with a camera attached at the end. As this tool is inserted via an incision inside your abdomen, the doctor will manage the camera to remove the uterus in tiny pieces. As compared to other procedures, this procedure has a lower risk of infection, less scarring and less of a blood loss.
Vaginal hysterectomy – According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, they recommend this type of hysterectomy as the first choice since it produces the fewest complications and is known to have the quickest healing time. Like the laparoscopic hysterectomy, this is also considered a minimally invasive surgery. With this surgical procedure, your doctor, while you’re under a general anesthesia, will use tools to remove your uterus through the vagina, and depending on the circumstances, the fallopian tubes and ovaries may be removed as well. For most patients, a one to two-night hospital stay is recommended in some cases, with some patients being able to go home the day of the surgery.
Recovery process – how long?
Depending on the procedure performed, some patients can go home as earlier as that day, while some, especially those with complications, may have to stay upwards of four days to be monitored.
When you’re able to go home, you will be asked to move around but not too much and to take it slow, according to Cigna. During the first 14 days, it is important to rest as much as possible, and even when you feel as if you are your normal self, you will still need to refrain from lifting heavy objects.
In the end, most patients will see a full recovery ranging anywhere from four to six weeks.
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