Medicare Mastectomy Out-Of-Pocket Costs w/ Sentinel Node Biopsy

Charitylake

Yes, I know there will be variations on insurance costs/prices by hospital and so many other factors. Yet, it would be nice to have at least a price range (even if some guesswork is involved) on just what the following things (with all the necessary bells and whistles might cost).  Yet, if you have Original Medicare (just ignore what your supplement paid) and maybe you can help us out here:

What are the costs of Hospital+Outpatient Mastectomy(1)???

(no guarantees on the prices, individual results & iocations will definitely vary)

1. Pre-Operative Hospital Outpatient
2. Surgery w/ Sentine Node Hospital Outpatient
3. Post-Operative Hospital Outpatient
4. Hospital Stay of 1-2 days (specify length)
5. Doctor Fees: 
6. 1. Anesthesiologist 
   2. Onco-Surgeon
   3. Pathologist + Pathology 
   4. Hospitalist

Anything Else that I forgot:

Lump Sum Estimates/Guesstimates for Original Medicare 2010-2012 are very, very, very welcome. I've heard ranges from anywhere potentially of $5000 to $14,000, to $40,000 and I would not even rule out the potential for $100,000 +. I truly and really believe that women should have the financial ballpark numbers available to them, if they so choose to have that information. Thank you all, if anyone cares to partake of this information void.  Many Thanks,

Also, total billable costs is alternatively good information to if the out-of-pocket are not available. Just having some good opinions would at least create a potential price range to work from. Thanks again. 

P.S. Thank you all for the suggestions. Yes, billing departments should be willing to disclose as should insurers ------ Yet, medical financial transparency needs some work in certain geographic locales. I'll just wait and see what the paperwork says. I may end-up answering my own question, given a few more months.  

Charitylake

peggy_j

I agree--costs vary so much by region and even county that it makes sense to ask your hospital. If you need other info you might call your state's consumer health insurance line (on a *.gov website) Keep in mind that anesthesiologists sometimes bill separately so you want to verify that he/she will take your insurance.