Pacemaker

Not enough information

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-10 08:28:10

Where do you live? The numbers vary widely. In the US, I've seen numbers from $10K to over ten times that number. If you intend to pay for it out of pocket,  it may be double what an insurance company would pay. Too many variables to come up with even a ballpark number.

Pacemaker fitted privatly cost

by Tim Tindall - 2018-09-10 12:07:17

I live in the UK not USA. I was told to post my question on this site ?

Helpful people

by Tim Tindall - 2018-09-10 12:52:48

Nice....

Why pay?

by MissFitts - 2018-09-10 15:21:19

When I had my PC fitted as an emergency in May comlete with ambulance, blue lights and all the trimmings, I had a look on our private healthcare website, just to see what it would have cost had it not been  for the good old NHS. It looked like a starting price of about £5,000, but it was not clear what this included.

But  why do you need  to have it done privately? I doubt if the medical care will be better, though no doubt the room will be nicer.  When I was admitted, I enquired about  transferring to the private hospital which serves our area, and it was pointed out that the consultant  doing  my procedure the next day would be the one doing it at the other hospital but with less back up if suddenly needed . So I stayed  put. 

If you really need a pacemaker  the NHS, will do you proud..

Who knows.

by PacedNRunning - 2018-09-10 17:06:09

I’m in the US. California and my EP study was 75k. The anesthesia alone was 5k. Haven’t gotten my bill for the pacemaker. I’m sure it’s double because I stayed overnight 

PM cost private vs public

by Kiwi - 2018-09-10 17:58:03

I live in New Zealand,have private health insurance but went through the public system as PMs are not covered under my policy The time difference for getting the procedure done was only a week longer to wait for public and the specialists surgeons etc were the same ones that would have done it privately  Interesting to find out that even if you are covered here for a particular procedure under a private policy all the follow up appointments are not whereas with public they are Seriously considering dropping my private health insurance 

Who knows? - exactly.

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-10 22:21:31

My last ablation (#3), in January cost something like $25K.  A month later the pacemaker and AV ablation, plus a night in the hospital was around $15K.  Same year (a month apart). Same hospital.  Same doctors. Same insurance company.  Go figure.

A week before the pacemaker, an ER visit and a couple of nights in the hospital cost a lot more than the pacemaker.  There is no figuring costs.

UK.

by IAN MC - 2018-09-11 04:26:51

Hi Tim.   I agree totally with Miss Fitts . Whilst by international standards a private PM implant, at around £ 5,000 is not unreasonable there really is no point in going private here in the UK

I don't believe that the private sector is geared up to post-implant adjustments using our highly qualified NHS cardiac tehnicians. Also there is not any excessive waiting list for PM implants

Let us know what you decide

Ian

The equipment is cheap but.....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-09-12 00:37:49

The ICD's and pacemakers are relatively inexpensive, a couple to ten grand or so, it's the installation that gets you.  My ICD required an overnight stay and the hospital billed it for over $100K.  Fortunately insurance covered it all as I was already max out of pocket with copays and deductibles.  I'm in southeastern North Carolina, prices vary, your experience may be different, some assembly required, however batteries ARE included!

Private pacemaker

by Tim Tindall - 2018-09-12 13:49:54

Hi all, Many thanks to you all for giving me your comments.

Iwill tell you the full story, in brief. Which is my reason for asking the initial question about cost.

My Mum, 84 yrs, after many years of dizziness and angina finally went to see a specialist.

Saturday 18th. He said not angina it's your heartbeat which is only 38 !! You must have a pacemaker fitted asap. I can do it on the NHS but waiting time is 8 to 12 weeks. But I have a private slot on Thursday 24th. Dad, 86 yrs, asked how much and was told about £5000.00 if everything went okay. So they decided to have it done on Thursday.

Monday 22nd. Dad got an e mail with the invoice for the job that they wanted paying for before they would do it. Understandably.

They asked for £12,000.00 which Dad decided to pay so as not to loose the slot on Thursday.

They did the operation without any complications with a local anesthetic, 1 hr in the rest room then home she came. The operation was done at Addambrooks which is the place they both go to, sadly on a regular basis.

I must admit she seems to be a different person, very ' Perky ' and should have had it done years ago.

What does annoy me is how it seemed to jump from 5K to 12K. I've called and spoken to the finance manager to ask her to clarify the cost. All she said was they compare their prices with other private hospitals, like Nuffield, in Bournmouth and London, and she feels they are all about the same.

I pointed out the they live in Ely, Cambridgeshire which cannot be compared to places like London or Bournmouth. She then said for me to look round and find out what other places are charging, and get back to her with the results.

I just think the way they processed the invoice was like holding them over a barrell.

That's why I posted my question.

Appalling !

by IAN MC - 2018-09-13 05:35:50

I know for a fact that some private hospital groups ( BMI for example ) charge much less than 12K.    If I were you I would definitely get a few quotes and attempt to get a refund.

Best of luck

Ian

Pacemaker fitted privatly cost

by Tim Tindall - 2018-09-13 05:44:57

Cheers Ian. Thought it was not just me that think the same as you.

I will do as you suggest and look at BMI. , and let you know the outcome.

I do not believe I will get a favourable outcome as they have had the money and I am dealing with an accountant.

Best regards,

Tim.