Q: I really have no idea what the cost of such a procedure might be. Could you provide an estimate?

A: This is a difficult question because what is really being asked is:

"What will be my "Out of Pocket" expense?" This "real money" amount is the important figure, as this is what "makes or breaks" access to almost anything.

Medical or Surgical Treatment - because it is so people and technology intensive - is often expensive. If any of us had to pay for medical care only from our checkbook - we would all be in trouble! That is why insurance evolved in the first place. The idea was that all of us would support each other by pooling resources. But insurance coverage today is incredibly inconsistent. The "Out of Pocket" expense (because of what insurance does or does not cover) can range all the way from nothing to the full bill ! (The latter - no matter what the procedure - is generally impossible for most of us.) To see how frustrating it has become, consider the following:

(1) Different Institutions accept different Insurance Plans. This can vary widely. If "on my plan" - it may work out well. If "not on my plan" the patient faces the almost impossible task of "Paying Out of Pocket." Because of poor payment by some carriers, a few institutions have adopted the policy of accepting NO insurance, and request the patient to pay in full.

(2) Different Insurance carriers reimburse differently - even if the institution accepts them. Some carriers pay in full without a residual balance for the patient, while others leave the patient with a substantial balance.

(3) Many Insurance carriers do cover this procedure. Others do not, citing that this is an "experimental procedure." (We are on record that UAE is no longer experimental, and provide our patients with appropriate documentation for their insurance company.)

And if all this were not difficult enough, there are two other things:

(1) Different Institutions may require different pre-embolization evaluation procedures. If these have not already been done, the cost of these procedures will need to be added to be run through the insurance piece, and
(2) There will be transportation and lodging costs if you must travel for the procedure

Perhaps you can now better understand why answering this question about "Out of Pocket Expense" isn't all that simple. Although the information is definitely available, it must be answered on an individual basis. Because we believe that patients have the right to know what the costs are ahead of time, any patient selecting our hospital should call, provide her insurance information, and we will give her with an estimate the amount of her "Out of Pocket Expense" (if any.) It is our belief that most institutions doing UAE will provide this same service.