Will My Insurance Company Cover My Spinal Stenosis Surgery Cost

Conditions such as herniated discs, bone spurs, and arthritis can all cause spinal stenosis, a term which refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal. When the spinal canal is narrowed, tissue may start to press up against the spinal cord or the nerve roots. The symptoms of this condition vary based on its severity and on where the damage is located; spinal stenosis in the neck is normally more serious than in the lower back.

Spinal stenosis often responds well to conservative treatments, and non-surgical treatments are indeed the best course of action in cases where they are effective and applicable. However, sometimes symptoms like pain and muscle weakness persist even after treatment. Other patients experience symptoms that are getting progressively worse, or that are very severe. In such instances, the doctor may recommend spinal stenosis surgery.

As long as it is deemed medically necessary, your insurance company should cover your spinal stenosis surgery cost; your portion of that cost will depend on your insurance plan. Below, we'll explore the basics about spine surgery, as well as the factors that influence the spinal stenosis surgery cost.

About Surgery

Most of the time, spinal stenosis surgery may be done with either open spine surgery, or laser spine surgery. Both types of surgery can be effective, but patients will see considerable differences in the overall experience:

• Open spine surgery is an inpatient procedure with a hospital stay; laser surgery is performed on an outpatient basis
  
• Open spine surgery may require major interventions, like fusing two vertebrae together
  
• The recovery time for laser spine surgery is about 1/4 that of open spine surgery
  
• The risk of certain complications, such as infection, bleeding, and blood clots, is lower with laser spine surgery
  

Costs of Surgery

Many factors influence your spinal stenosis surgery cost. Uncontrollable factors like the extent of the surgery, the local cost of living, and market fluctuations play a role. Another big factor is whether laser or open spine surgery is used - laser spine surgery is sometimes less expensive, since the overall course of treatment is shorter and less intensive. In addition, your insurance coverage plays a big role - the size of your deductible, and how much of it you've used so far this year, will be the biggest determining factor.

To schedule a consultation about treatment for your back pain, please click below and enter your information or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (646) 374-1799