Nasal turbinate surgery cost
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Expert tips for finding the right health insurance
Our health insurance expert, Steven Spicer, has some tips on finding health insurance.
Steven Spicer
Executive General Manager – Health, Life & Energy
Consider your needs
There isn’t a universal health insurance product for everyone, so you’ll need to consider your needs when choosing your next policy. Take into account details such as your health needs, family history and the healthcare services you’ll use. This will help you know which inclusions will benefit you and which you could do without.
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Shop around and do your research
There are many health insurance options out there. Different funds will offer different policies at different prices, so it’s worth comparing your options to find the right policy to suit your needs and budget.
What is nasal turbinate surgery?
Turbinates are bony shelves in your nose covered by soft tissue that help regulate airflow through the nasal passages and also warm and humidify air.1 Sometimes, inferior turbinates (those lowest in the nose) can permanently enlarge, and this enlargement leads to nasal congestion and blocking of the nasal airway. There are two main surgical procedures for inferior turbinate reduction:
- A turbinoplasty is a procedure that uses a nasal endoscope to place an electric current either through the surface of the turbinate or inside the turbinate tissue.
- A turbinectomy removes or resections some of the tissue and/or bone to create better airflow.
The ultimate goal of both surgeries is to reduce turbinate size to improve nasal airflow while preserving the turbinate lining (the mucosa).
A specialist will perform the procedure through the nasal cavity.1 It is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia and is often a day surgery, meaning you’ll be able to go home afterward. The healing process takes about two weeks.
Nasal turbinate surgery can be performed in combination with other surgeries, such as nasal septum surgery, sinus surgery or polyp removal. If you’re having multiple issues addressed in your surgery, this will affect your final costs.
What are the benefits of nasal turbinate surgery?
Some of the potential benefits of nasal turbinate surgery include:1
- Reduce chronic nasal obstruction (treating a severe blocked nose)
- Help with enlarged turbinates due to rhinitis
- Relieving symptoms of sleep apnea, snoring and headaches
Are there alternatives to a turbinectomy or turbinoplasty?
Usually, your doctor will try a few alternative treatments before recommending nasal surgery.1
Depending on the severity of your nasal blockage and the cause, your specialist may recommend a nasal spray, antihistamines, decongestants, nasal saline or steroids to help with congestion. If these treatments don’t work, surgical options will be considered.
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How much does a turbinectomy procedure cost?
The cost of your turbinectomy will depend on a few factors, including the complexity of your procedure and your choice of specialist. Turbinectomy (MBS items 41689 and 41692) has a typical specialist fee of $1,700.2 Medicare paid $450, while the insurer typically covered $500. The out-of-pocket expenses are usually around $650. Hospital fees will typically be $2,200. Your insurer will usually cover most or all of your hospital fees, though you may need to pay an excess or co-payment.
Keep in mind these figures are just a guide and your procedure could cost more. Factors such as your surgery’s complexity and your choice of specialist will influence your expenses.
Does health insurance cover nasal turbinate surgery?
Yes, nasal turbinate surgery can be covered by private hospital cover, provided you have the right level of cover. It falls under the category of ‘Ear, nose and throat’ which is a minimum requirement for Bronze, Silver and Gold tier hospital cover. Depending on what’s required as part of your surgery, you may also require cover for ‘Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)’ which is a minimum requirement for Silver and Gold tier hospital cover.
Private insurance helps cover the costs of being treated as a private patient. Having your procedure performed in a private hospital has a range of benefits, including:
- Avoiding public hospital waiting lists
- Choice of specialist/clinic
- More flexibility regarding when you have your surgery (subject to availability and the urgency of procedure).
If you’re purchasing a health insurance policy for the first time, you may need to serve a waiting period before you can make a claim. This also applies to any new cover you receive when upgrading or switching policies. If you have a pre-existing condition (excluding rehabilitation, in hospital psychiatric services and palliative care) or need cover for pregnancy and birth related services, you’ll need to wait 12 months before you can make a claim on your hospital policy. Otherwise, you’ll usually have to wait 2 months. For information specific to your cover, check your policy documents for further details.
Does Medicare cover nasal turbinate surgery?
If you have your procedure performed through a public hospital, your turbinate reduction will be covered by Medicare. When your procedure is performed in a private hospital, some of your MBS fee will be covered by Medicare while the rest will be paid by your insurer (providing you have the right cover). If the treating doctor charges above the MBS fee, then you may have an out-of-pocket cost that you will need to pay yourself. Without insurance, you’ll need to pay this amount, plus anything the insurer would have paid.
There are potential downsides to the public health system, such as a lack of choice for specialists and when you have the procedure performed. The waiting lists for public hospitals are also long and you may be waiting months for treatment.
Meet our health insurance expert, Steven Spicer
As the Executive General Manager of Health, Life and Energy, Steven Spicer is a strong believer in the benefits of private cover and knows just how valuable the peace of mind that comes with cover can be. He is passionate about demystifying the health insurance industry and advocates for the benefits of comparison when it comes to saving money on your premiums.
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1 Health Direct – Turbinectomy. Accessed November 2024.
2 Medical Costs Finder – Turbinectomy (remove small nasal bones). Accessed November 2024.