When you look at the price of a defibrillator, you need to consider the financial and physical costs of the device.
Financial Costs of a Defibrillator
Purchasing a life saving device is not cheap. The price of a defibrillator varies widely. It is dependent upon many factors including the type of procedure you have and your insurance coverage. Patients with really good insurance will not pay nearly as much money as patients who are not well covered.
In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a defibrillator that is considered to be "low-cost." The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system, which is placed in a person's chest through a surgical procedure, costs roughly ,000. Other defibrillator's come with a price tag that's more than double this cost.
The ,000 or more fee for the device is only the beginning of the financial price of your defibrillator. The ,000 does not include the hospital stay for the operation. A person generally spends at least one to three days in the hospital after the surgery. You'll also have to pay for the doctors and nurses to work on you. You'll also have to pay for any follow up medications and procedures. After a person undergoes this type of surgery, they will be put through a series of tests to ensure that device is working correctly. These also cost money.
The only way to get a surefire estimate on the price of your defibrillator is to talk to your doctor and talk to your insurance company. They will be able to give you a rough idea of the cost based on your individual situation.
Physical Costs of a Defibrillator
Though the litany of financial costs may be overwhelming, there are other, more important costs to figure into the price of your defibrillator. If you're in need of a defibrillator, your health is at risk. No one goes to their doctor and says, "I feel like getting a defibrillator today. Do you think you could fit me in?"
People get defibrillators because their health is at risk and if they don't get one, they will suffer severe consequences. So, when you're trying to swallow the financial price of the defibrillator, think about the value of your life. Is it more important to save money? Or, is it more important to live and increase your quality of life? This sounds morbid, but this kind of thinking can really put the financial price of the defibrillator into perspective.
On the flip side, you also need to consider the physical harm that could come from getting a defibrillator. Surgery is always risky and could result in death. You could also get a defective defibrillator, though doctors check these to make sure they're working after the surgery.
Spin-off Defibrillator Costs
If you want to get technical, you could factor potential spin-off costs into your defibrillator price. This would include the cost of long-term care for any problems related to the surgery. These costs may also include attorney fees, which could come about in the event of a medical malpractice suit.
Though these costs can occur, most people can estimate their defibrillator price by talking to their insurance company and doctor.
