Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to considering the financial aspects. This guide is here to simplify the terminology and information you might see on your surgeon's quote, so you can feel informed and confident as you plan for your procedure.
Surgeon’s fees are the costs that are paid directly to the surgeon performing your surgery and cover their time and expertise in performing the surgery.
These fees may also include any medical devices or products intended to be left in your body as part of the surgery, such as implants. Sometimes the cost of these implants are listed out separately alongside a line item that specifically says “Surgeon’s Fees,” but typically they are included in the “Surgeon’s Fees” umbrella and not listed out separately.
These fees are typically paid directly to the surgeon that is performing the procedure.
Facility fees are the costs paid to the hospital or surgery center where your procedure takes place and typically cover the time using the facility, as well as the support staff and administration that help your surgeon perform the procedure. Facility fees also typically cover the use of any equipment used during your surgery that are not left inside your body as part of the procedure, such as dressings and scalpels. These fees are also sometimes referred to as hospital fees or operating room (OR) fees.
The surgeon’s quote will typically address where this payment is due and, if not, it’s always recommended that you reach out to your surgeon's office for advice on where to make these payments.
Anesthesia fees are the costs associated with putting you under sedation for your procedure and cover the medications associated with your anesthesia, as well as the time and expertise of the anesthesiologist that is monitoring you during your procedure.
Here are a few examples of additional fees you might see on your quote and what each typically covers.
Your quote will also likely contain information about how to process payments, who the payments are due to and when the payments are due.
Deposits are typically due to your surgeon’s office to secure your surgery date. Deposits are usually a portion of your total quote and count toward your final balance. For lower-cost surgeries, the deposit may be a flat amount rather than a percentage of your quote.
Many deadlines on the remaining balances are based on your surgery date, so your provider’s surgical coordinator will communicate the exact deadlines more explicitly once you’ve booked a surgery date.
It’s common to see phrasing like “Your procedure MUST BE PAID IN FULL THREE WEEKS BEFORE your date of surgery.” Once you’ve booked a surgery date, it’s important to ask your surgeon for clear communication about all future deadlines, especially if your balance is due on a holiday or when the office will not be open.
When considering the timeline for paying off your balance, it’s important to consider any limitations that your bank or credit card may have on spending, like daily spending limits or credit limits.
If paying by check or money order, be sure to factor in time that the check will be in the mail and consider using a mailing service that includes tracking so that you know when it has arrived at the surgeon’s office. Before mailing your check, be sure to get the exact address that you need to mail it to and ensure that your check includes all information the surgeon or facility will need to associate it with your account, like a Medical Record Number (MRN) or account number.
An estimate and quote are the same thing, and can be used interchangeably to refer to the document that your surgeon will give you to approximate the costs of your surgery. Quotes have an expiration date and are typically locked in once you pay the deposit to your surgeon and book your surgery date, with the exception of the facility and anesthesia fees noted above. If your procedure is not booked by the expiration date listed on your quote, your surgeon may not be able to honor the quote and costs may change. A quote does not mean that you owe anyone any money unless you choose to move forward with the services listed on the quote.
An invoice, sometimes called a bill, is a statement of money due and reflects the costs of services that have been performed or are expected to be performed on your surgery date. Most surgeons will not issue a separate bill or invoice for your procedure and expect the quote to be paid in full before your procedure is performed. It’s also rare for your facility and/or anesthesia provider to issue an official invoice for your procedure.
You will commonly receive a bill or invoice after your procedure if there are facility and/or anesthesia overages and for the pathology fees associated with your procedure. Your facility may also bill you for any unexpected medications that you used during your time in the facility.
If you ever receive an unexpected bill, it’s recommended that you reach out to the billing department that sent the bill. If you’re unsure about the charges, you can also ask the billing department to send over an itemized bill so that you can review the charges for anything you’ve already paid.
Most surgeons charge a consultation fee. This fee varies based on the surgeon, but is typically under $1,000.00. A consultation fee covers the time for the surgeon to examine your body, discuss your goals with you, and generate a surgical plan and quote. Many, but not all, surgeons will put the cost of the consultation toward your final surgical expenses if you choose to book your procedure with them.
The amount of pre-operative clearance you’ll require will depend on your surgeon, the procedure you're planning to have, and any preexisting conditions that you may have or be at risk for. Most surgeons will require, at minimum, some preoperative blood work to evaluate your general health and screen for risk factors. It’s also relatively common to be required to complete a COVID-19 screening prior to your procedure.
Other common clearances include, but are not limited to:
Your preoperative clearances may also be covered by your insurance, so be sure to talk to the billing coordinator at the lab or imaging facility where your clearances take place.
Understanding the costs involved in surgery is key to keeping your timeline on track and reducing stress. Remember:
By preparing financially ahead of time, you can enter your surgery with peace of mind, ready to focus fully on your recovery rather than unexpected expenses.