Craniotomy Surgery Cost in India

One of the most common neurosurgery procedures, craniotomy, involves making incisions or opening the bone flap to gain access to the brain to treat various brain conditions. Experts perform this delicate procedure.

Cheapest craniotomy costs: $2,500 (INR 187,500)

Median market cost of craniotomy: $5,000 USD (375,000 INR)

Most expensive craniotomy cost: $10,000 USD (INR 750,000)

Treatment type: Craniotomy is a type of neurosurgery operation to get access to the brain by making a hole in the skull.

Duration of treatment time: Ranges from 1 hour to 2 hours.

Hospital stay: hospitalization for 3–5 days.

Chances of recurrence: Medium

Recovery period: 4–6 weeks

Success rate: 80%

Overview

The goal of a craniotomy is to fulfill, as determined by the demand or treatment need for various indications specific to the respective patient, such as:

1. Extirpation of Brain Tumors: The craniotomy is frequently used for tumor removal operations, where a bone opening is made to thereafter allow the neurosurgeon access to the tumor, with its ensuing complete and safe removal from the brain.

2. Treatment of Epilepsy: In cases of epilepsy resistant to drugs, operation for excision of the part of the brain that generates seizures may be the required course of treatment.

3. Drainage of Brain Abscesses: Craniotomy surgery opens infections in the brain that form pus pockets.

4. Treating vascular problems: If there is a problem or damage in the cerebral arteries, the skull can be opened up surgically to fix it. Aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are two examples of these problems, in which the connections between blood vessels inside or outside the body are not working properly. Deathly complications like bleeding may occur as a result.

Factors Influencing Cost

There are numerous factors that can obviously affect the cost of a craniotomy altogether. We will identify major factors from a preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative perspective.

Preoperative Aspects:

1. Diagnostic Imaging:

- Different groups of imaging are needed for a preoperative evaluation of the condition and to plan the surgery; for example, imaging with MRI or CT scans will be required. The cost of these examinations varies greatly based on the location of the image capture.

2. Laboratory Tests:

- Blood tests are required before all surgical procedures; typically, the tests comprise a total count, coagulation profile, and blood typing as per requirement.

- The costs of these tests are variable depending on the individual exams and the charges established by the laboratory concerned.

3. Consultations and Evaluations:

- Consultations may be required with neurosurgeons, neurologists, anesthetists, and other specialists before surgery.

- All of this is influenced by your health care provider, site, and insurance coverage physicals.

Intraoperative Aspects:

1. Surgeon's Fee:

- Costs vary by personnel's expertise and experience, geographical location, and the level of needed intervention.

- For an episodic experience, these fees cover preoperative consulting activities, actual surgical procedures, and meetings by the end of surgery.

2. Anesthesia:

- These fees are derived from anesthesia services offered by anesthetists in addition to general costs of medication, monitoring, and dispensable equipment and tools in the OR.

- The nature of the surgery and the specific anesthesia requirement for that patient would most likely impact a person's cost in anesthesia.

3. Operating Room Expenses:

- A major factor contributing largely to the actual cost is the operating room itself, with the equipment, disposable supplies, instruments, and support staff; that's all added up in the arena.

- Whereas there are charges for the use of the operating room, other expenses could be derived from localization, facility, and really how long the operation endures with personal settings.

Postoperative Aspects:

1. Length of stay:

- Due to varied complications experienced therein, most patients have a longer stay after craniotomy surgery, where they may stay more days.

- Long stays mean increased prices on hospital room rentals, nursing, medications, and such related services as well.

2. Drugs:

- Inpatient and outpatient craniotomy are used alongside a variety of drugs, with common medications being analgesics, antibiotics, and those for managing possible grave complications.

- The specific drugs, the dosage of medication, the duration of administration, and the insurance company's evaluation are all factors in drug costing.

3. Follow-up Visits and Rehabilitation:

- Patients need review appointments and more rehab services—like physical therapy and occupational therapy—after discharge from the hospital.

- Frequency and durations of visits and rehab sessions affect overall costs.

Variation of Costs in Cerebral Surgery:

1. Geographic Differentials:

- Health care costs will vary greatly over different regions and countries depending on their health care systems, provider fees charged, and local economies.

- Cost of living, labor costs, and availability of resources also would contribute to regional variations.

2. Healthcare Facility Related Considerations:

- Hospitals' costs, like any other business, would be based on the building infrastructures of the hospitals, reputation, specialization, and care available.

- An academic medical center or a specialized neurosurgical center has higher costs than a community hospital.

3. Insurance:

- Insurance coverage and reimbursement policies could also influence the overall amount out of pocket by patients for craniotomy surgery.

- Some insurance companies will pick up most, or all, costs, while others will pay nothing, making the smallest out-of-pocket payment negligible.

4. Complications and Revision:

- The development of complications would necessitate additional surgical procedures beyond infections, shunt malfunctioning, or blockage, which usually add up to the cost.

Expenses Involved in Surgery

The surgery cost for craniotomy ranges between approximately $10,000 and $20,000 USD or more, depending on factors outlined above. It is crucial to seek official consultation from doctors, insurance companies, and financial advisors to obtain an individualized cost quote based on a thorough assessment of each individual's situation. Experts from medical departments can provide detailed information on this procedure, cost-related aspects, potential additional financial aids, and insurance coverage.

Inputs for Incidence of Craniotomy Cost:

Large surgeries can escalate the costs involved, all because craniotomy techniques require considerable sophistication concerning the localization and size of lesions as well as a confirming or complicating diagnosis.

Fees of the neurosurgeon: Here, skilled and known neurosurgeons' expenses are generally higher because they are famed, and so is the cost of their work.

Pricing of hospital facilities it is evident that the craniotomy surgery price includes some other hospital facilities, like private rooms, advanced equipment, and more after-surgery facilities.

Pre-operative examinations  costs of studies to be undertaken to determine the diagnosis: blood work, MRI scans, and CT scans. The different diagnostic centers or hospitals charge differently for these various services.

Post-operational Highlights: The costs, however, could be owing to medications required, nursing care, and subsequent outpatient appointments after an operation.

List of Health Insurance Companies for Craniotomy Surgery in India:

1. New India Assurance Company Limited

2. National Insurance Company Limited

3. Oriental Insurance Company Limited

4. United India Insurance Company Limited

5. Religare Health Insurance Company Limited

6. HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited

7. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited

8. Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited

9. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited

10. Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited

Cashless claims for craniotomy surgery in India:

This means that if a policyholder is treated in any of the network hospitals, they can avail of cashless claims for brain development.

To enlist for a cashless claim facility, prior approval of authorization from an insurance company should be gained from the hospital, which also guarantees coverage and the cashless claim process itself. All the expenses and bills for surgery and hospital stays, as approved, will be invoiced by the hospital to the insurer, relieving the patient of the upfront payment.

Beforehand, read your policy's cashless claims terms and conditions, including any deductibles or co-payments.

Reimbursement claims for craniotomy surgery in India:

Patients who have paid cash for their craniotomy surgery can get the PDOC files back from their insurance companies.

Moreover, they should be able to include their medical bills, discharge summaries, and prescriptions, as well as diagnostic reports, to their insurance company for possible reimbursement.

The application is processed and reviewed, and the insurance firm will reimburse the claims based on the terms and conditions of coverage agreed to in the policy document.

Therefore, all expenses incurred for surgery serve as evidence. Make sure to monitor all purchased items and document them in accordance with the insurance company's rules before filing any claims.

Medical loan providers for craniotomy surgery in India:

• Bajaj Finserv
• HDFC Bank
• Axis Bank
• ICICI Bank
• State Bank of India
• Citibank
• Punjab National Bank
• Yes Bank
• IndusInd Bank
• Tata Capital

International Health Insurance Companies for Craniotomy Surgery in India:

• Cigna International
• Aetna International
• AXA Global Healthcare
• Allianz Worldwide Care
• Bupa Global
• MetLife International
• Now Health International
• Pacific Prime
• AIG
• Zurich International Health

You, as a patient, will reach peace of mind if you pick any of the above international health insurance plans to get the most comprehensive health insurance, such as for craniotomy, by which the division takes care of the whole world.