How much can someone expect to pay for ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) ?
April 23, 2018 3:11 PM Subscribe
How much can someone expect to pay for ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) ? I'm especially interested in learning how much did you or someone you know pay for ECT after insurance ?
Most of the cost will be based on your insurance. Call the number on the back of your insurance card for customer service and find out whether the ECT procedure is covered fully under your policy.
Make sure you also ask what deductibles need to be met or whether you are responsible for co-pays for each treatment. Check to see if prior authorization is needed and that both the facility and the anesthesiologist is in network with your insurance if they bill separately.
Find out from the facility whether the medical clearance needed for ECT is performed by them and billed separately or whether it can be done through your family doctor. It won't hurt to ask the facility the same questions about estimated costs - it's better to be prepared and have answers from both sides.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 12:42 PM on April 24, 2018
Make sure you also ask what deductibles need to be met or whether you are responsible for co-pays for each treatment. Check to see if prior authorization is needed and that both the facility and the anesthesiologist is in network with your insurance if they bill separately.
Find out from the facility whether the medical clearance needed for ECT is performed by them and billed separately or whether it can be done through your family doctor. It won't hurt to ask the facility the same questions about estimated costs - it's better to be prepared and have answers from both sides.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 12:42 PM on April 24, 2018
Best answer: I just had it - before insurance it was like $4-6k per session if I remember correctly. I had a $6k deductible so I spent the full $6k. Its not cheap because there are like 5 people in the room and they are knocking you out.
posted by anodyne88 at 2:21 PM on April 24, 2018
posted by anodyne88 at 2:21 PM on April 24, 2018
I can't remember the specifics, but I'm fairly sure it ran around 200-300 per session (or less) after about 50% government subsidy. You may need to factor in inpatient costs: mine was a month's stay for six sessions of unilateral ECT* - the total ran about $8K. I am based in Singapore, so obviously this is much less than you would likely pay in the US, but it gives you a sense of the basic costs involved. Feel free to MeMail if you have any questions.
* typically takes two weeks, but pre- and post-ECT assessment plus a few missed sessions because I spiked a fever lengthened it.
posted by ahundredjarsofsky at 9:10 PM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
* typically takes two weeks, but pre- and post-ECT assessment plus a few missed sessions because I spiked a fever lengthened it.
posted by ahundredjarsofsky at 9:10 PM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by lazuli at 3:52 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]