How much does it cost to remove a prostate?

Talk Cancer » Cancer Hospital » How much does it cost to remove a prostate?

Categories: Cancer Hospital

Question:

How much does an RRP cost? How much does the DaVinci procedure cost? I know there are endless variables, and expenses such as doc, anesthesia, nursing, hospital, meds, etc.I’m just looking for a ballpark figure. 10g’s, 25g’s, 100g’s? Thanks, WhiteSoxFan

Two years ago my insurance company was billed for the total of 38,000 for RRP and three days stay in hospital. I suspect that hospital accepted less but the whole procedure did not cost me a penny. Tee — Verba volant, scripta manent.

Response:

Thank you for your advice, however I was not raising the issue that I could not afford the surgury. I would like to know the comparative costs of RRP vs Da Vinci Robotic Surgury.

Response:

WhiteSoxFan, A DaVinci RP costs about $30,000 based on my bills. The insurances pay much less because they have contracts with the hospitals and docs. DaVinci usually has a shorter length of stay in the hospital, but uses more resources. The machine costs over $1M. How many cases do you amortize the cost of the machine over? Also, the instuments need frequent replacement, so the direct equiptment cost for disposables is about $1,500 per case. A standard RP costs vary a lot depending on the length of the hospital stay. Steve U

Response:

Thank you for your advice, however I was not raising the issue that I could not afford the surgury. I would like to know the comparative costs of RRP vs Da Vinci Robotic Surgury.

I think it’s around $5000 difference give or take a few.

Response:

I know their will be a difference with or without insurance. I’m not talking about my cost, just the cost of.

Response:

My recent 3 day stay in hospital after my RPP was $16K for just a semi-private room (with a very sick terminally ill guy). I am sure the insurance company has a negotiated rate. Haven’t rec’d surgeon bill or Anethesiologist etc but those are usually negotiated too. While it may be callous but if you have insurance I would not make a decision based on cost. The outcome of your surgery and life to me is worth whatever it takes. But I am fortunate and I understand as I was concerned with out of pocket expenses despite having good coverage. The national averages (couple yrs old) I found researching came up with $38K but like you say many variables.

Response:

$20K +/- depending on your location. —

Response:

Thanks for all your reply’s. This thread can be closed, I have the information that I need. WhiteSoxFan

Response:

Depends on whether you have insurance or not. For my LRP in 2003, the doctor billed insurance $7000, he was paid, because of his contract with the insurance company, $2500. The hospital billed insurance $80,000 for two nights (that’s right, $80,000!), they were paid a few thousand. Add in the assistant surgeon and other odds and ends for another couple of thousand and total cost to my insurance was well under $10,000. With no insurance, I assume I would have been billed about $100,000. Don’t know what I would have actually had to pay. Gotta luv the system. Dave Perry

Response:

My surgery with all tests and follow-up cost around $40k Sandy K.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How much does an RRP cost? How much does the DaVinci procedure cost? I know there are endless variables, and expenses such as doc, anesthesia, nursing, hospital, meds, etc.I’m just looking for a ballpark figure. 10g’s, 25g’s, 100g’s? Thanks, WhiteSoxFan

Response:

There are tips and some ways to save on these web pages. (some/many may be duplicates) http://www.rare-cancer.org/financial-aid.html http://www.cancercare.org/pdf/services/fs_financialhelp.pdf http://www.cancercare.org/services.html#assist I’ve searched before and never found specifc assistance for surgery. Is the name of the surgeon that important? Are there other surgeons, using same technology, who are as competent, who might charge less because they’re less well known? I’ve heard that some may be willing to discount if cash (instead of having to deal with insurance companies). Look at your assets and debts. Take a step back (be objective) and look at your assets again. Many (not all) people I’ve seen on cancer newsgroups, have more than they need. Houses bigger than they need, fancier vehicles than they need, duplicates and triplicates of "things". How to turn assets into cash….and still live a comfortable but more modest lifestyle. OR how to translate assets into cash to buy the insurance plan you need to cover your surgery and care? I looked at your Gleaon numbers. This is your life we’re speaking about, as you realize. Hopefully you’ll work it out and not get into debt for the rest of your life. Best wishes, J

Talk Cancer