I know surgery will be expensive, even with insurance, but not as much as they say in total (over $100,000). It’s a lot, but I need my back fixed so badly. When I was 15, my curves were 40° and 30°, and now at 23, it’s worse (double curve).
I was supposed to get a brace when I was 13, but my doctor said I’d be fine. But I’m not, I struggle with daily activities and even breathing (wish I could sue for malpractice, but I’m not sure if that’s serious enough to pursue).
Nothing. I live in Australia, so everything was covered. I only paid about 30 bucks for some painkillers and antibiotics after being discharged. It’s honestly shocking when I read about healthcare costs in the US.
It really depends on your coverage. My mom works in healthcare, so we have good insurance. My surgery without insurance was $218,000, but with insurance, I paid less than $1,000. Also, no, you can’t sue your doctor for malpractice because that’s not malpractice. Bracing helps prevent curves from worsening during growth. By the time you were 15 with those curves, bracing probably wouldn’t have helped. Surgery is the only solid option when curves get to around 40 degrees.
@Harley
Oh, I see! Yeah, my dad has good insurance, so I hope it’ll be affordable too.
But I was diagnosed at 13, and the doctor said I didn’t need a brace, even though it was already noticeable. That’s why I thought about malpractice. When I was 15, Boston Children’s Hospital told me I should’ve had a brace when first diagnosed to stop it from getting worse. I just wish I got a brace at 13. Maybe I wouldn’t be in as much pain now.
@Shane
That’s really unfortunate, but still not malpractice. Doctors make decisions based on how scoliosis usually progresses, but it’s not always predictable. Surgery has risks, so they try to avoid it unless it’s necessary. What are your Cobb angles now?
@Azar
Thanks for clearing that up. My mom kept saying I should sue, but if it’s not malpractice, I’m just focused on getting the surgery now.
I’m not sure what my current angles are. I was recently hospitalized, and they connected me with a doctor, but I’ll have to wait until 2024 for an appointment. I think my curves could be in the 40s or 50s now. My back’s really sore, and I just want to get some relief soon.
@Harley
That’s nonsense. Anyone reading this should do their own research before believing such claims.
Micah said:
@Harley
That’s nonsense. Anyone reading this should do their own research before believing such claims.
You should always consult a doctor, but everything I said is true.
@Harley
No, it’s not true. A 40-degree curve can be reduced with specific exercises like PSSE. In places like the Asklepios clinics in Germany, bracing can reduce Cobb angles even in adults. Surgery isn’t always the only option, but many doctors might not tell you that.
I had a fusion from T2 to L3, and I paid about $6-7k out of pocket. My insurance was billed around $325,000.
Gale said:
I had a fusion from T2 to L3, and I paid about $6-7k out of pocket. My insurance was billed around $325,000.
It depends, but my surgery cost about $400,000, and we only paid around $1,300. We might just have really good insurance.
I had my fusion last year. The bill was around $450k, but my parents only paid about $100 in copays because the surgeon was in-network. Make sure your anesthesiologist and other providers are in-network too, or you could end up with surprise bills.
@Ezra
450k is crazy! Glad your copays were so low. Some of my meds cost more than that for just 30 pills, so I can relate to the struggle. I really hope I can get my back fixed soon. Thanks for the advice about finding the right surgeon. The last thing we need is more surprise charges.
We’re in the US. My son didn’t pay anything because he’s permanently disabled and on government health insurance. His surgery had complications that made it expensive, but we never saw any bills. The only thing we paid out of pocket was for wound care supplies, and that was a few hundred dollars.
@Wei
That’s good to hear your son got the help he needed! Scoliosis makes everyday life so hard. I’m in constant pain, and it’s tough finding work that doesn’t make it worse. It’s great he got his surgery without those huge bills. Also, it’s really kind of you to cover those extra costs. My mom has been so supportive too, and I just want to feel better. Healthcare in the US is crazy expensive, and it’s frustrating how much they charge for even the simplest things.
Have you looked into non-surgical options like physiotherapy? Schroth therapy is designed for scoliosis.
It depends on your insurance. My plan has a $3,000 deductible and a $5,000 out-of-pocket max, so I paid $3,000 and then 20% of the costs after that until I hit $5,000. After that, my insurance covered everything. When I had my fusion, I owed about $200 out of pocket, but without insurance, it would’ve cost me $206,000.
How bad are your curves now? You should try scoliosis-specific exercises. Even if you end up needing surgery, these exercises can make a big difference. It’s frustrating how many doctors don’t talk about the progressive nature of scoliosis and leave people unaware as it gets worse.