If your ankle is injured and you have been told that you need surgery, one of the first questions that often comes up is how much the surgery will cost, and whether it will be covered by insurance. The good news is that ankle surgery is almost always covered by insurance, which makes it affordable for the majority of patients. Below, we will take a look at how you can get ankle surgery covered by insurance, as well as how you can manage your out of pocket costs if they are too high.
Ankle Surgery Basics
When ankle surgery is necessary, minimally invasive surgery is often an option. Minimally invasive surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting, and only requires local anesthesia and sedation. Only small incisions are required, which decreases the recovery time. In cases where the ankle is severely damaged, open joint surgery may be required.
One of the advantages of minimally invasive ankle surgery is that it is less expensive than traditional ankle surgery, since fewer resources are required. However, any type of surgery is expensive, which is why it is important that you get ankle surgery covered by insurance. At the same time, the benefits of getting the recommended treatment for your ankle injury far outweigh the costs, and often result in long-term savings in health care costs.
Ankle Surgery Covered by Insurance
Your health insurance should cover your ankle surgery, since ankle surgery is only used when it is necessary to correct a medical problem. This means that the biggest factor that determines how high your out of pocket costs are is the terms of your insurance. If you are not sure about how your insurance covers ankle surgery, you should call your insurance company for more information. This can give you a better idea of what out of pocket costs you can expect, allowing you to plan for the cost of surgery.
Managing Your Out of Pocket Costs
If you have a high deductible or copay, you may not be able to pay all of your out of pocket costs at once. In such cases, there are options that can help you spread the cost of treatment over a longer period of time, making it more manageable. Patient financing companies specialize in providing financing in such situations, and are a popular option. Other options include loans from a bank or credit union, health care credit cards, and traditional credit cards. The right choice for you depends on your financial situation and your personal preferences.
Dr. Howard Marans would be happy to meet with you about your ankle injury. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call OC Orthopedic at (714) 979-8981.