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 |  | With Insurance: $700-$2,000 |  | Without Insurance: $4,000-$11,000 |
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A hernia is a condition that occurs when an internal organ, such as part of the intestine or stomach, bulges through the muscle and skin. Typically hernias appear suddenly, after lifting or straining weak muscles. According to the Cleveland Clinic[1] , about 5 million Americans develop a hernia each year. Surgery is necessary for the hernia to be fully resolved, though some patients can suppress symptoms by using a hernia truss.
Typical costs: | - About 70 percent of hernias occur in the groin, which is called an inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia can be repaired through open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, according to the National Guideline Clearinghouse[2] . A recent study[3] of more than 1.5 million hernia operations found that the average cost for an open hernia surgery ranged between $4,200 and $6,200. Those with insurance can expect to pay typical deductibles and coinsurance rates. According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the average family will have a $939 deductible to meet each year before their insurance benefits cover procedures. In addition, the survey found that the average coinsurance rate is about 17.9 percent of the bill. This means the average patient would pay between $750 and $1,109 for their hernia surgery.
- The other common type of hernia is called an umbilical hernia, which occurs in the abdomen. An umbilical hernia can also be repaired through laparoscopic or open surgery, which can cost an individual without insurance between $4,000 and $11,000. The average individual with insurance can expect to pay between $700 and $2,000.
- Some patients opt to delay surgical treatment of a hernia. In these cases, physicians often recommend the use of a hernia truss. A hernia truss or hernia support pushes the bulging organ back into the body. Hernia supports can cost between $15 and $110.
Related articles: Laparoscopy, Back Surgery
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What should be included: | - Patients undergoing open surgical treatment of a hernia will have an incision made in the skin, near the site of the hernia. The surgeon will push the bulging organ back into its proper position and then will repair the muscle tear. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgical treatment of a hernia will have three small incisions made near the site of the hernia. The surgeon will use a camera to view the issues inside the body and small instruments to make repairs to the injured tissue.
- Patients can expect to spend a few hours at the hospital or outpatient surgery center recovering. In some cases, a longer recovery period is necessary. During the recovery time, patients will have a bed and may receive intravenous fluids. Pain relief will also be provided, either via IV or tablet.
Additional costs: | - Patients recovering from hernia surgery may be prescribed pain medication when leaving the hospital.
- Most patients will not need rehabilitation services after hernia surgery, but significant time off from work may be required. According to the National Guideline Clearinghouse[4] , patients undergoing open surgery can return to light clerical work in about two weeks. Patients who work as manual laborers should wait between 21 and 56 days before returning to work, depending upon the intensity of their job. Those undergoing laparoscopic surgery should wait about a week before returning to light clerical work and about two weeks to 28 days before returning to a manual labor position. For many patients, the Family Medical Leave Act[5] will protect them from losing their job during a period of medical leave. However, employers are not required to offer pay beyond accrued vacation and sick leave time during the recovery period. Before the surgery, patients who may require extended medical leave should research the medical leave act and talk to their human resources department about leave options.
Discounts: | - Many hospitals will provide financial assistance to low-income families and individuals. The level of assistance and income requirements will vary by facility. Be sure to contact the hospital or outpatient facility prior to receiving treatment.
Shopping for hernia repair: | - A patient's primary care physician will likely refer the patient to a surgeon for a surgical hernia repair. Patients can check a physician's licensure status with their state department of registration. Patients can also make sure their surgeon is board-certified through the American Board of Medical Specialties [6] .
- For more information about selecting a doctor, the National Institutes of Health [7] offers a free guide online.
- When shopping for a hernia truss, make sure the system fits and adequately supports the hernia. Many trusses will provide complete relief of symptoms, though they do not cure the hernia. Patient can ask a pharmacist for assistance in determining proper fit.
- not covered by insurance
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
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| Posted by: a user in San Diego, CA. | Posted: May 30th, 2023 03:05PM |
| Type of Hernia: Ventral Hernias and Umbilical Hernias | Type of Procedure: Robotic Laparoscopic |
| Surgeon: | Medical Facility: La Jolla Memorial |
Out-Of-Pocket expenses came to $3500, and $150 in copays w/ Blue Shield CA. |
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| Posted by: sean_the_bean in Portland, IN. | Posted: March 1st, 2023 08:03AM |
| Type of Hernia: Inguinal | Type of Procedure: Laparoscopic repair with mesh |
| Surgeon: Kern | Medical Facility: IU Health Jay Hospital |
Charged over $39000 before insurance. Straightforward operation with no complications, and only spent a couple hours in the hospital. After adjustment, BCBS paid about $12000, and I have a bill for $4200. ($1150 deductible plus 20% coinsurance).
I got an estimate beforehand for $23000, which they incorrectly processed as open surgery rather than laparoscopic. Still would have been around $3000 out-of-pocket that way. |
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| Posted by: Jerry L Kreps in Lincoln, NE. | Posted: December 21st, 2021 02:12PM |
| Type of Hernia: inguinal | Type of Procedure: Endoscope and mesh |
| Surgeon: Dr Norris | Medical Facility: Bryan outpatient |
I'm 80. I walked into the outpatient facility at 12:30PM and walked out at 4:30PM. Took pain meds for 3 nights to help sleep, after that no meds were needed. Two small surgery scars, and one hidden in the belly button.
Dr Norris billed my insurance $1,088 and it paid $390. My share was $0. As of today, 12/21/21, the results have been excellent. Haven't received a bill from the outpatient facility yet. They'll probably charge more than Dr Norris, who was grossly underpaid. |
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| Posted by: Kelly Stewart in Beaufort, SC. | Posted: October 13th, 2021 05:10AM |
| Type of Hernia: Belly Button | Type of Procedure: Robot |
| Surgeon: Hospital Based | Medical Facility: Beaufort Memorial Hospital |
45 minute surgery . I got to the hospital at 630 in the morning. I did the paperwork and paid the first 900 dollars. I have BCBS insurance . I was home resting by 1030 same morning. Just a few hours at the hospital. Surgery went great. This bills started coming and after all said it cost 23000 dollars. Im not sure how much insurance paid but I maxed out so I paid 3000 my annual deductible . This seem a little much for a 45 minute surgery. Health care cost are out of control and Im not sure where the blame is. People not paying hospitals, aliens not paying and giving a different name to hospitals, people unable to pay bills. Im sure there are factors I am not privy to. I believe that I should have shopped around to different hospitals for a better price. I went with the hospital closest to my house. Great staff , nice hospital support staff I have no complaints with the overall treatment. Maybe you get what you pay. I would tell people 100% I was happy with treatment. |
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| Posted by: David848594373 in Mountain View, CA. | Posted: October 2nd, 2021 05:10PM |
| Type of Hernia: bilateral inguinal | Type of Procedure: robotic laparoscopic |
| Surgeon: Seth Strichartz | Medical Facility: El Camino Hospital |
most paid by insurance, my cost was my max out of pocket for the year. Cost was more than twice the worst-case estimate I could find online for the area I live in. |
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| Posted by: Jim Sherlock in Bowmanville, Ontario, Other. | Posted: March 3rd, 2020 04:03AM |
| Type of Hernia: Inguinal | Type of Procedure: Laparoscopic |
| Surgeon: Dr. Kang | Medical Facility: Bowmanville Lakefront Health Hospital |
Day surgery - the cost is for hospital parking. No co-pay or deductible |
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| Posted by: Drew Mayerson in Templeton, CA. | Posted: October 7th, 2019 09:10PM |
| Type of Hernia: Umbilical | Type of Procedure: Outpatient - Laparascopic |
| Surgeon: | Medical Facility: Twin Cities, Templeton CA |
Hsopital charged $323,000 for a 45 min to 1 hour laproscopic surgery on my naval with a mesh implant. Medicare pays and they accepted only $116,000. I had to pay $0 because I have supplemental insurance. Regardless, I was outraged that the hospital feels they can charge that much money. That's the price of a home around here. Does anybody think this is an abuse of the system or am I missing something? |
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| Posted by: BKirk1 in Denver, CO. | Posted: January 9th, 2019 03:01PM |
| Type of Hernia: Incisional | Type of Procedure: Open/Robotic |
| Surgeon: A damn good one | Medical Facility: St Luke\'s in Denver |
A basketball sized hernia that I lived with for two years. Surgeon had to remove part of my small intestine, my ovaries and my appendix. Over 8 hours on the table and an additional 7 days in the hospital.
The overall cost shook me but the surgery saved my life.
Do not put off hernia repairs. Get em done while they're small |
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| Posted by: Paul Klearman in St Louis, MO. | Posted: October 15th, 2018 08:10PM |
| Type of Hernia: Iniguinal Hernia | Type of Procedure: Double Hernia |
| Surgeon: Daniel Hafenrichter | Medical Facility: BJC Healthcare-Mo Baptist |
This is a double hernia, medical procedural code #49505. The procedure was completed @ Mo. Baptist Hospital, St Louis, MO 63141. This was on an out-patient basis. The procedure was about one hour and went home, one follow up to the surgeon. Included a new, stated "safe mesh."
I feel that the procedure costs which included the anesthesiologist, all encompassing, was too high. What do you think? ***** They did not send me the bill until October of 2018!!! Fortunately, our carrier paid the lions share. Surgery was on 8/11/2017. I would appreciate your input accordingly, thank you. |
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| Posted by: KR in Mumbai, India, NY. | Posted: March 27th, 2018 12:03PM |
| Type of Hernia: Right Inguinal Hernia | Type of Procedure: open, with J&J mesh |
| Surgeon: Dr Sudeep Shah | Medical Facility: Hinduja Hospital |
This was for my dad, who is 85. The surgeon was very professional and well-trained and the hospital (with a Short stay private room package was just world class & accounted for most of the $1100, including overnight stay in a fully staffed facility). My dad was able to walk the next day (the local anesthesia numbed his leg so much that he could not walk the same evening. the 3-4" wound is healing OK, except they took off the waterproof bandage in 3 days which caused some local abrasion with his clothing seepage calling for local antibiotics (neomycin powder). I am a US healthcare scientist (not a practicing doctor), and everything I saw in this hospital compared favorably with US hospital facilities. totally shocked at the rates we are paying in this country for such a simple 20-30 minute procedure- I had no idea till we read the other reviews. We paid out of pocket in India since it was a semi-emergency. Could not dream of paying out-of-pocket in the USA at these prices. |
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| Posted by: Doug May in Noblesville, IN. | Posted: February 26th, 2018 08:02AM |
| Type of Hernia: L-side Igunial Hernia | Type of Procedure: Outpatient Surgery with Mesh |
| Surgeon: Dr. Samuel R. Heiser | Medical Facility: Riverview Surgery Center |
I am confident that I received excellent care for my less than 5 hour stay for surgery and recovery, by a highly skilled physician and team. Grateful for their care.
Having said that I wish I had shopped the service or had some consultation from my insurance about what a fair billing is for this surgery.
It appears that I have blown my entire combined deductible, and now responsible for $6,414 out of my own pocket, a remaining balance of what appears to be more than what some people and their insurance are billed for in total.
Had I been a wiser buyer, I could have reduced my own liability and prevented my insurance company from also paying a price that appears to be on the higher side of the market. |
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| Posted by: Wayne Fenimore in Rockville, PA. | Posted: March 30th, 2017 10:03PM |
| Surgeon: Dr Alan Kravitz | Medical Facility: Montgomery Surgical |
After popping a hernia on vacation I flew home and starting to look around for a surgeon. Since I don't have insurance the quotes were out of sight. Anywhere from 6000 to over 20000. I found Dr Kravitz online. I did a complete background check and found that he had no sanctions or lawsuits pending.
I made my appointment and had my surgery . I was treated like a rock star from everyone. A true professional. More doctors should follow his lead and make surgery affordable.
Recovery is ongoing and successful. I walk a few miles everyday from day one. |
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| Posted by: J. Squires in Daytona Beach, FL. | Posted: March 25th, 2017 10:03AM |
| Type of Hernia: Laparoscopic | Type of Procedure: Hernia Repair with Mesh |
| Surgeon: Dr. Joel Sebastien | Medical Facility: Halifax Medial Center |
I had a huge hernia on my right side for about four years. It went untreated until I found a great job with excellent health care. The Operation took about seven hours from the time I walked in 'til they wheeled me out the front door. I was off work for eight days and my right testicle is still swollen, not the regular size after 53 days. Out of pocket expense including Dr. visits is around $500. |
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| Posted by: Faron Vernon in Rockville, MD. | Posted: January 3rd, 2017 06:01PM |
| Type of Hernia: Inguinal | Type of Procedure: open |
| Surgeon: Dr, Alan Kravitz | Medical Facility: Montgomery medical facility |
Dr. Kravitz was very professional and proficient. I drove 320 miles to his office for the consultation and was operated on the next day. Recovery was not bad at all.
When I see what some have paid for this same operation, I am appalled at our insurance companies for paying out these outrageously bloated prices. If i want Obama care just for me it cost over $800 a month. Now I know why. This makes it very apparent how crooked our health care system is. Sad.
Thank you Dr. Kravitz for being affordable for patients like me. |
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| Posted by: irene lopez in tampa, FL. | Posted: September 17th, 2016 09:09AM |
| Type of Hernia: umbilical hernia | Type of Procedure: mesh |
| Surgeon: Dr. Kaufman | Medical Facility: tampa community hospital |
Question bill of 420000. Received detail for 72,ooo.Need help on disputing this |
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| Posted by: Joe Scott in Ft Myers, FL. | Posted: February 25th, 2016 12:02PM |
| Type of Hernia: INGUINAL | Type of Procedure: OPEN |
| Surgeon: TOMAS | Medical Facility: |
NO MESH technique at UFirst Health in Ft Myers Fl |
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| Posted by: suki7 in Little Rock, AR. | Posted: February 7th, 2016 09:02AM |
Large ventral hernia that i walked around with for two years. Cause: returned to work on floor as nurse. Lifting patients (even with help-- 250 pound patients). Incisional hernia. Couldnt stop to get it repaired. Finally repair. What would have been simple hernis repair two years ago was now major surgery. Five days in hospital. Major pain meds. I now have "marshmellow" middle with mesh. Just glad no infection. Had to get it done. It was like having huge basketball removed from abdomen. My advice: dont wait-- hernias should be repaired asap! This is 2016. |
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| Posted by: [email protected] in Fort Myers, FL. | Posted: December 25th, 2015 11:12AM |
| Surgeon: Dr. Thomas | Medical Facility: U first health (Fort Myers Fl.) |
I am a contractor and have delt with a inguinal hernia for over 3 years. My Wife found this incredible place in 2015. "NO MESH" Thank God for a Great wife, they use the Disarta method. I walked the beach the next day after surgery and after 1 week I had to be constantly reminded to slow down. I felt so good. Please remember it's surgery so yes there was a small amount of discomfort but nothing compared to 1 day of hernia and truss discomfort I felt with for 3years. These people or so great, pleasant, profesional, and caring. I would recommend them to anyone and everyone. No hidden cost. I did not have insurance so my wife and I drove our van 12 hrs got a room From Thurs-Monday at the extended stay inn and had to purchase 2 prescriptions. Total gas, rooms, food,prescriptions and surgery was less then $4,500. You can email me if you need any information or referance. Two months now and I feel perfect. Pat [email protected] |
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| Posted by: Patricia21 in Los Angeles, CA. | Posted: October 3rd, 2015 05:10AM |
| Type of Hernia: Stomach | Type of Procedure: Laparoscopic |
| Surgeon: Rather not say | Medical Facility: Cedar Sinai |
This was a small stomach hernia that did not even require mesh. My insurance was billed total 158,000 which included surgeons (2), anesthesia, and hospital charges. My insurance covered about 28000, and I am hoping to cap my costs at 6200. I have not idea why it was so expensive - surgeon said it was a very minor repair. |
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| Posted by: Henry Slisbury in Germany, Other. | Posted: September 5th, 2015 02:09AM |
| Type of Hernia: Bilateral and Inguinial | Type of Procedure: Laposcopic |
| Surgeon: Dr Frankenberger | Medical Facility: Salem Clinic, Heidelberg Uviversity |
Went in yesterday morning for my operation and felt a bit Wosey when I got out of surgery, but this morning after having slept all night in the hospital feel excellent and can walk easily with no pain. Doctors here want paitients to remain two days in hospital for observation. Hospitali is super clean and Ver modern and I have my own room. Out of pocket expense $450. |
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| Posted by: tony O in Mountain view, CA. | Posted: July 31st, 2015 10:07AM |
| Type of Hernia: Inigual | Type of Procedure: inguinal |
| Surgeon: | Medical Facility: el camino hospital |
26,119 for outpatient surgery, medicare paid 765.60 and no additional charge to patient.. Brits pay 1900, health care costs U.S. outrageous. |
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External Resources: | - my.clevelandclinic.org/digestive_diseases/departments-centers/general-surgery/hern...
- www.guideline.gov/iedetect.aspx
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12415334?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubm...
- www.guideline.gov/iedetect.aspx
- www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/index.htm
- www.certificationmatters.org/is-your-doctor-board-certified.aspx
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/choosingadoctororhealthcareservice.html
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