Incontinence Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs could include a doctor visit copay, a prescription drug copay and, if surgery is required, coinsurance of 10% to 50% for the procedure. Treatment for incontinence typically would be covered by health insurance.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, treatment for incontinence can start at less than $200 for a doctor visit and exercises or behavioral modification for urge incontinence or stress incontinence. For example, at Southern Illinois Urology, the cost of a doctor consultation is $150. If those simple treatments do not work, medications typically cost between $5 and $150 or more per month for urge or stress incontinence. Or, surgery -- more commonly used to treat stress incontinence -- can range from less than $10,000 to $25,000 or more. For example, at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children[1] , in Hawaii, surgery for stress incontinence typically costs about $6,000 to $7,000 if the bill is paid in 30 to 90 days, or almost $10,000 if not paid within that time. And at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[2] in Lincoln, NE, charges about $7,400-$11,800 for a sling operation for stress incontinence, not including the doctor fee, which can add several thousand dollars to the total cost. At Wright Medical Center[3] in Iowa, sling surgery costs about $11,900, which includes a doctor fee of about $3,200. And Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis charges about $8,900 for a female sling and $22,600 for the male sling surgery, not including the doctor fee.

• First, a doctor might recommend behavioral training and exercises that could include: a decrease in caffeine consumption, delayed urination, scheduled bathroom trips and/or Kegel exercises[4] .
• If behavioral changes and exercises do not help enough, the doctor might prescribe one of a number of medications. Common brand names include Detrol, Toviaz, Vesicare and Sanctura.
• The National Institutes of Health offers overviews on treatments for urge incontinence[5] and stress incontinence[6] . And WebMD[7] offers an overview of the surgical options for treating stress incontinence in women.
• Urinary incontinence, while more common in adult women, can also occur in men. The National institutes of Health has an overview[8] of treatments for urinary incontinence in men.

• Incontinence pads[9] typically cost $5-$20 per pack.
• Travel urinals[10] , for use when getting to a restroom is difficult or impossible, cost less than $10 for a disposable pouch or about $30 for a reusable device.
• Bed protection[11] can cost $15 or less for a package of disposable pads or $20-$30 or more for a reusable bed pad.
• A study[12] found that women with incontinence spend about $750 a year on supplies before surgery -- and $190 a year after having surgery.

• Some free or low-cost clinics, such as the NYC Free Clinic[13] and the Clinic at Brackenridge[14] in Austin, TX, offer access to specialist care. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services also has a tool[15] to find a federally funded health clinic. If a nearby clinic does not offer urology care, they can provide a referral.
• Also, many hospitals offer discounts for uninsured/cash-paying patients.

• A urologist can diagnose and make treatment recommendations for incontinence. The American Urological Association has a urologist locator[16] by zip code. It is important to make sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Urology[17] .
• If surgery is required, it often is recommended for a female patient to consult a urogynecologist with experience performing the type of surgery sought. The American Urogynecologic Society has a physician finder[18] . There is no board certification in urogynecology, but it is recommended to find a fellowship-trained urogynecologist.

1.  www.kapiolani.org/women-and-children/my-hospital-bill/uninsured-calculator.aspx
2.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
3.  www.iowaspecialtyhospital.com/index.php?option=com_costestimator&Itemid=189
4.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/kegel-exercises/WO00119
5.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001270.htm
6.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000891.htm
7.  www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/womens-guide/urinary-incontinence-in-women-...
8.  kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uimen/
9.  www.drugstore.com/medicine-and-health/pads-and-pantiliners/qxg183057-0
10.  www.uroanswers.com/womensurinary.aspx
11.  www.drugstore.com/medicine-and-health/bedding-protection/qxg183051-0
12.  www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/news/20100930/incontinence-surgery-helps-cu...
13.  nycfreeclinic.med.nyu.edu/information-for-patients/schedule-appointment
14.  www.seton.net/locations/brackenridge/services
15.  bphc.hrsa.gov/technicalassistance/taresources/slidingscale.html
16.  www.urologyhealth.org/urology/findurologist.cfm
17.  www.abu.org/
18.  www.mypelvichealth.org/FindaProvider/tabid/75/Default.aspx

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