September 8, 2009
10 Weeks Post-Op: $40,000 LATER!!
Posted by chukeer under UncategorizedWell, as the title states, I’m 10 about 10 weeks post-op ATR #2.
I’ve been doing hour long PT sessions twice a week. Most of the sessions consist of the following –
1. 5-8 minutes on a bike
2. 15 minutes of ultra sound
3. 10-15 minutes of massage
4. 5 minutes of balance exercises
5. 10 - 15 minutes of stretching
My first day of PT my ROM dorsiflexion was -4*, as of last week I was at 9*. My other ankle has a 15* dorsiflexion, so I’m getting there. Walking in the boot is going well, I still have pain in my heel after a extended period of time on my foot. My PT said this is perfectly normal still and that it will take some time for that to go away.
Anyways an interesting fact that I came across today…As of August 31, this whole ordeal has cost my insurance $40,000. It’s costing my insurance $600/hr for PT. For now I am going twice a week until my Doctor re-evaluates on September 30th. My PT said that he expects another 6 weeks of PT to be ordered after my re-eval for some more intensive strengthening. So when all is said and done, I’m expecting this whole thing to cost my insurance between $55,000 - $60,000. Remember I’ve torn my Achilles twice this summer and had 2 surgeries 6 weeks apart.
That’s all for now…
September 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
$600/hour?!! Chuck, where the hell are you going to PT? Do they serve you champagne as they massage you? Horse davoors on demand?
I looked at an EOB last week and I think mine are about $150 each session. FANCY!
Tamar
September 9th, 2009 at 2:47 am
Wow that is an astonishing amount of money I have just done a currency converter if it ends up at $60000 then in £ Sterling it is nearly £37000, that is amazing.
I went private over here in UK I will have to tot up my calculations and see hoe much my insurance paid, but I am sure it is nothing like that amount. Quite frightening.
Annie
September 9th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Wow, that IS a huge amount of money, much more than mine has cost so far.
But certainly sounds like you’re getting a good physio workout.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:09 am
Hi Chuck
I am just starting to put weight on my weakened foot, I get pain in the heel as well, I am working through it. But I hope your PT gets you on your feet, without more problems. Don’t forget when you post to this site in the early hours AM, in the UK its day time PM. Keep writing and Good luck, heal well.
Lee
September 9th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Thanks Lee for the encouragement.
Tamar, I feel like I should be getting some Cristal during my massages too, haha. The normal rate is $150 for every 15 minutes. After my re-evaluation I think that I should be back down to 30 minute sessions.
I just thought with all the healthcare debate currently going on in the US that it’d be interesting to know how much someone without insurance would have to pay. Thank god for my insurance.
A majority of the costs comes from the surgeries obviously, they were about $12k each, then 2 MRI’s for $2300 each, then all the doctor visits and PT. Definitely adds up quickly.
September 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Good Lord - $10 every minute! Rightyho, I’m moving to the US of A and training to be a physiotherapist. I reckon I’ll only have to work one morning a week! Pass me the Green Card application forms someone…!
Smoley
September 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Chukeer - Yikes! I am also on my second surgery in the past 20 months. My total so far is around $23,000 (all covered by insurance). I’m guessing I have a few thousand dollars more in follow-up and PT appointments. $600/hour for PT seems very expensive. Are you on the west coast?
September 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Wanna know how much it costs for the uninsured? Here you go (I am in Los Angeles):
Surgery Center Fee: $3900
Surgeon Fee: $2900
MRI: $750
Anesthesiologist: $500
Initial Consultation (incl. x-rays): $400
Pre-Op Physical (incl. blood work): $300
Boot: $100
Meds: $35
Crutches: $30
Follow-up Visits: Included (I had complications and the charges were waived)
PT: $100/session
I believe there was at least a 20% discount for being a self-pay on all fees.
Also, I too had a re-rupture. These costs are for one surgery. The second one was a little cheaper because the surgeon reduced his fees. And, fortunately, I did not need a graft.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Yikes, that is an obscene amount of money even considering your re-rupture. Dave’s figure looks much more reasonable, but is still about 3 times what it costs in Australia.
There is a thread somewhere else on the site about costs, I think I estimated mine at around AU$3000 all-in to have the surgery in the private system in Australia (i.e. excluding any government subsidy). That would go up if I was having regular PT (at $120 per hour), but I’m mostly looking after my own rehab. Total cost to me (I have private hospital cover) was in the order of $300.
Had I gone the public hospital route, total cost to me would have been $30 to hire crutches!
Dylan (dsut4392)