Will Minimally Invasive Back Surgery Be Covered By Insurance

For decades, the only option for treating spine conditions was invasive, open back surgery. During this type of surgery, the doctor must make a large incision to access the spine, and major procedures like vertebral fusion are often used. Now, the majority of back problems can be treated using minimally invasive back surgery. This approach has several advantages, and it should be covered by insurance just like traditional back surgery.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive back surgery has a number of advantages over traditional surgery:

• Shorter recovery time - The recovery period for minimally invasive surgery is approximately 1/4 that of traditional surgery. For example, most people who have laser back surgery can go back to work within a week.
• Lower risk of side effects - Neither procedure has a high risk of side effects, but the larger incision, longer downtime, and necessity of a hospital stay make the risk of certain side effects relatively high with traditional surgery as opposed to minimally invasive surgery.
• No large scar - The scars from minimally invasive surgery should be no larger than the size of a pen, while those from traditional surgery may be several inches long.
• Less costly - Since the procedure doesn't take as long to perform, there is no hospital stay, and the recovery time is shorter, most of the time the gross cost of minimally invasive surgery is lower.

Insurance Coverage

If your doctor determines that surgery is the best course of treatment for your spine condition, then your insurance should cover minimally invasive surgery. Your portion of the cost, then, will depend on how your insurance coverage works; factors like deductibles and copays vary considerably across insurance plans.

If you find that your portion of the cost is too much to pay out of pocket, there is still hope for getting the treatment you need. Some doctors offer payment plans through their offices. There are also a number of options, like credit cards, loans, and lines of credit, which can help you spread the cost of surgery over a longer period of time.

With insurance and, if necessary, financing options, the vast majority of people who need minimally invasive spine surgery are able to afford the treatment they need. This is great news, because effective treatment can increase your quality of life and keep future medical costs to a minimum.

To schedule a consultation about whether or not minimally invasive back surgery is right for you, please click below and enter your information or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (646) 374-1799.