Five helpful ways to get surgery assistance
Surgery can be stressful, and the cost can contribute to that stress. Even if you have health insurance, pre-deductible and out-of-pocket costs can add up. When you add these expenses to lost wages during recovery, the total medical bill can be overwhelming. If you’re wondering how to pay for surgery, look at the five resources below.
Understanding surgery costs
Surgery costs vary widely. The price depends on the procedure, where you live, and whether you have surgery in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. For this reason, no single average price applies to everyone.
A few examples show the range before insurance:
- A laparoscopic gallbladder removal, a common outpatient procedure, often runs $6,000 to $20,000.
- A three-day hospital stay averages around $30,000.
- A total knee replacement often runs $30,000 to $70,000 or more.
These figures show the price before insurance, discounts, or financial aid, so your own bill will likely look different. If you’re asking, “How much does surgery cost without insurance?” start with your hospital’s billing office. Ask for a written cost estimate before your procedure whenever possible.
The five resources below cover ways to pay for surgery and lower what you owe.
1. Payment plans
If you need help paying for surgery without insurance
If you’re asking, “How will I pay for my surgery without insurance?” the good news is that some hospitals may offer payment plans. The best way to handle this is by asking the hospital’s billing department before your surgery, but this may not always be possible if you have an emergency procedure.
In emergency cases, the hospital may want to work with you to establish a payment plan to cover the cost of your medical care. It’s very important to address this as soon as you’re able so the hospital’s billing department knows an alternate payment option has been established for you. This will prevent any issues down the line, such as the involvement of a collection agency.
If you need financial help for surgery even with health insurance
Even if you have insurance, the cost of surgery may not be fully covered, and you may face out-of-pocket expenses. In cases like this, we recommend contacting your insurance, surgeon, or hospital and asking if they can help you with a payment plan. Remember that your surgery provider wants to get paid, so they may be very willing to work with you on a payment plan. It’s important to ask before your procedure where possible, but afterward is never too late.
2. Medical loans and financing
Some people look at medical financing when a payment plan doesn’t cover the full bill. Financing means borrowing money, so it adds debt and often interest. It’s one option to consider, and it isn’t right for everyone.
Two common types are:
- Healthcare credit cards. CareCredit is one example. Providers in its network accept the card for many types of care, including surgery costs your insurance doesn’t cover. Some purchases come with a promotional period with no interest if you pay the full balance in time. If any balance remains when the period ends, interest is charged from the purchase date.
- Personal loans. Banks and credit unions offer these. The interest rate depends heavily on your credit history.
Before considering a surgery loan, look at the other options on this page, such as a payment plan, government programs, or fundraising. If you do consider financing, read all the terms and add up the total cost. A hospital financial counselor can help you compare your choices.
3. Temporary disability
If you live and work in a state with a mandatory program for temporary disability, you can apply for financial support while you recover from surgery.
While this financial assistance policy will help you following your surgery, it won’t help you pay for the surgery itself. When you apply, find out the limits of short-term disability coverage. These include the cap on monthly benefits and how long you can receive payments.
4. Government programs that help pay for surgery
If you’ve already had surgery and need government assistance for bills, check your eligibility anyway. Some programs, such as Medicaid, may cover care you received shortly before you applied, so apply as soon as you can.
Financial aid for children needing surgery
Insure Kids Now is a great resource for low-income working parents who don’t have health insurance, or whose insurance doesn’t extend coverage to all family members. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide low-cost health insurance for children, and some cities offer affordable health coverage for kids from low- and middle-income families. Each state has different eligibility rules, so check what options you have in your area.
Financial support for veterans
All veterans can apply for health care benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, only some veterans are eligible for health care without copays. Once enrolled, veterans receive a medical benefits package, which includes inpatient care services, including surgery. Veterans and their families are also offered a patient advocate to help guide them through the system.
Financial assistance for seniors
People 65 and over who need money for surgery can get health care coverage through Medicare, including surgery coverage. Medicare coverage is divided into several parts. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
Financial help for everyone needing surgery
Look to see if your state offers medical coverage for people with low household incomes. When you’re facing a major surgery, you may qualify where you hadn’t before. You may qualify for Medicaid if your income is below a set percentage of the federal poverty guidelines.
Start with Healthcare.gov. A “qualifying life event,” such as losing other health coverage, may allow you to apply for subsidized coverage even outside the Affordable Care Act’s usual application windows. If your state has its own healthcare exchange, Healthcare.gov will send you there. Then, follow the directions to see if you qualify for insurance subsidies or other coverage and start the application process.
5. Online fundraising for medical expenses
Crowdfunding is a tool anyone can use to get help with surgery costs. As insurance deductibles rise and coverage shrinks, more people are turning to their community for support.
For emergency surgery, online fundraising on GoFundMe can be particularly effective. If you or a loved one is facing emergency surgery, you may be wondering how to get money for surgery with such little time to organize your finances. The good news is that you can raise money with GoFundMe’s fundraising tools. There’s no platform fee for organizers to start a fundraiser, and there’s no pressure to reach your goal before withdrawing funds.
Medical fundraising resources
- Our medical crowdfunding guide will walk you through the process of creating a successful medical fundraiser.
- Check out our medical fundraising tips for inspiration and ideas.
- For those struggling to pay for healthcare without insurance, read our blog post on ways to get help for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Why fundraising matters
When you need help paying for surgery or another life event, every dollar counts.
Successful GoFundMe surgery fundraiser examples
Many people turn to their community for help with surgery costs. The three fundraisers below show how friends and family came together to support a loved one.
Chris’ appendectomy recovery
You can start a fundraiser on your own or have someone else start it for you. Take, for example, Chris’ appendectomy recovery. After Chris and his wife welcomed their new baby, he faced an unexpected surgery but had no paid time off from his work. They found it difficult to pay for the costs of the surgery and his aftercare. His friend Amanda decided to take action and start a GoFundMe for his surgery costs and was able to raise over $5,000 to put toward mounting medical bills. With this help, the family was able to focus their attention on their new family and Chris’ recovery, all with less stress.
Lung transplant recovery for Pauly
Pauly and Yaniv’s cases are some examples of fundraisers for transplants on GoFundMe. After battling a brain tumor and cancer at a young age, Pauly faced the prospect of a double lung transplant. Pauly’s family members and friends rallied behind him to raise over $41,000 to cover many of his out-of-pocket costs, making it easier for him and his family to focus on his long recovery and getting healthy again.
Double lung transplant for Yaniv
Due to years of cutting and polishing a man-made marble full of silica for his job, Yaniv developed an occupational lung disease called silicosis. His lungs started collapsing in 2015, and the persisting issues led to Yaniv needing a double lung transplant. Although Yaniv’s surgery is covered by insurance through his wife’s workplace, they still have many out-of-pocket costs to pay. Knowing that their friends and family who live far away would still like to contribute to Yaniv’s care and well-being, his wife set up a GoFundMe so the community could come together to help. They’ve surpassed the fundraising goal and have raised over $28,000.
See what others say about online fundraising on the GoFundMe reviews page.
Find surgery assistance
Don’t let medical bills from surgery push you to the verge of medical debt. The more familiar you are with your financial assistance programs, the better prepared you will be in the event of an emergency.
Surgery assistance FAQ
Some people use medical financing, such as a healthcare credit card like CareCredit or a personal loan from a bank or credit union. Financing means taking on debt and often interest, so it isn’t right for everyone. Before you consider a loan, look at payment plans, government programs, and fundraising. If you do consider financing, read the terms closely and add up the total cost.
Several programs help cover surgery costs, depending on your situation. Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and VA health benefits all cover surgery for people who qualify. Eligibility varies by income, age, and veteran status. Some programs also help with bills after surgery. See the “Government programs that help pay for surgery” section above for details on each one.
There’s no platform fee for organizers to start a GoFundMe fundraiser. That’s different from having no fees at all. Transaction fees, including credit and debit charges, apply to each donation. These fees come out of each donation automatically before the funds reach the fundraiser, so organizers don’t get a separate bill. See GoFundMe pricing for details. Fundraising also doesn’t make the surgery itself free. Payment plans, financing, government programs, and fundraising are the realistic ways to cover the cost of a procedure.