Hysterectomy: Preparing for the Procedure and Costs

Many patients prepare themselves for big procedures like a hysterectomy by asking about what to expect during the surgery and what the recovery period looks like. Because a hysterectomy affects fertility, many women may also want to prepare themselves for the emotional toll of the surgery.

But, patients don’t always ask about the cost ahead of time.

Common reasons for a hysterectomy include uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths that can cause pain and discomfort), endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain or gynecological cancer. If your doctor has recommended a hysterectomy as part of your treatment for these or other conditions, you’ll want to ask what to expect from the surgery and after you have recovered. You’ll also want to know what costs to expect and reduce the chance of a surprise bill.

On the Wear The Cost website, the Hysterectomy “episode of care” includes the total cost of all covered services related to the surgery, whether the service takes place in a hospital or in an outpatient facility. This total cost includes all doctor’s appointments, tests, and imaging done before the surgery, the surgery itself, and other care and treatment received before discharge from the hospital. The cost also includes follow up services provided to patients after being discharged from the hospital/outpatient facility, such as prescription medications and rehabilitation.

By including the related services before, during, and after the surgery, Wear The Cost captures the total cost of care of a hysterectomy for patients and health insurance companies. The costs are based on health insurance claims data and reflects what patients and health insurers actually pay providers for their services.

In Maryland, the cost of a hysterectomy can range from about $13,000 to over $20,000, depending on the hospital where the procedure takes place. These costs include things you expect, like the hospital stay. They also include treatments for complications that you hope not to experience and could potentially be avoided. Common potentially avoidable complications for a hysterectomy include bleeding after surgery, infections, bed sores and clots in leg veins. Some hospitals have more costs associated with potentially avoidable complications than others.

Knowing both the costs associated with the procedure and the rate of potentially avoidable complications can help patients as they consider where to get their surgery — something everyone should think about.

To learn more about what hysterectomies cost in Maryland and which hospitals may offer a better value, check out https://www.wearthecost.org/hysterectomy.html. Or create your own custom report to compare hospitals: https://www.wearthecost.org/report_step1.html.