Always confirm costs with your healthcare facility and/or insurance coverage
Whether it’s a life-saving procedure or a preventive choice, a mastectomy is a major surgery — physically, emotionally, and financially. And guess what? The bills are just as heavy as the decision itself.
Let’s break down what a mastectomy really costs (with and without insurance), and the financial landmines no one warns you about.
💡 Quick Answer:
Type of Mastectomy |
With Insurance |
Without Insurance |
|---|---|---|
Simple/Total Mastectomy |
$1,000 – $5,000+ (out-of-pocket) |
$15,000 – $25,000+ |
Double Mastectomy |
$2,500 – $7,000+ |
$25,000 – $50,000+ |
Skin-Sparing or Nipple-Sparing |
$3,000 – $8,000+ |
$30,000 – $55,000+ |
With Reconstruction (Implants or Flap) |
$5,000 – $15,000+ |
$40,000 – $80,000+ |
🧾 Without insurance, the cost of a mastectomy (plus reconstruction) can easily hit $80K+
✅ Most insurance plans (and Medicare) cover it if medically necessary.
🩺 What’s Included in the Cost?
Cost Breakdown |
Estimated Cost (No Insurance) |
|---|---|
Surgeon Fee |
$3,000 – $8,000 |
Hospital Stay (1–3 nights) |
$5,000 – $20,000 |
Anesthesia |
$1,000 – $2,500 |
Pathology/Lab Tests |
$500 – $2,000 |
Pre-op Imaging (MRI, Mammogram) |
$300 – $1,500 |
Reconstruction (implants or tissue flap) |
$10,000 – $40,000 |
⚠️ These are averages. High-cost hospital systems (looking at you, NYC and L.A.) will charge more.
🧬 Prophylactic (Preventive) Mastectomy? Still Pricey.
Even without cancer, high-risk patients (BRCA1/BRCA2, family history, etc.) often choose preventive mastectomies. Most insurance plans will still cover it — but only if deemed medically justified.
Procedure |
With Insurance |
Without Insurance |
|---|---|---|
Preventive Single Mastectomy |
$1,000 – $4,000 |
$15,000 – $20,000 |
Preventive Double Mastectomy |
$2,000 – $6,000 |
$25,000 – $40,000 |
🧾 Is Reconstruction Covered Too?
Under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA), insurance is federally required to cover:
- Mastectomy
- Reconstruction (immediate or delayed)
- Surgery on the other breast for symmetry
- Prosthetics and bras
✅ Medicare and most private plans must cover it. But you still may pay deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-network costs.
🧠 Common Hidden Costs to Budget For
Item |
Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
Follow-up visits, wound care |
$200 – $1,000 |
Compression garments & surgical bras |
$50 – $300 |
Physical therapy (post-op mobility) |
$100 – $200/session |
Lost wages (2–6 weeks off work) |
Depends on job |
Mental health therapy / support |
$100 – $250/session |
Travel & lodging (for out-of-town specialists) |
Varies |
💳 Tips to Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs
- ✅ Ask for in-network providers only (surgeon + anesthesiologist + hospital)
- ✅ Apply for hospital financial aid or charitable foundations
- ✅ Use FSA/HSA funds to cover all out-of-pocket eligible costs
- ✅ Consider cancer support orgs (like Susan G. Komen, BCRF) for financial assistance
- ✅ Get everything in writing — especially billing codes, insurance approvals, and reconstruction coverage
💭 Final Thoughts: Your Life > Their Bill
This isn’t optional. A mastectomy is a serious, often life-saving surgery — and no one should be blindsided by five-figure charges while navigating a diagnosis.
💡 Insurance helps, but the system is a maze. Ask questions. Demand itemized bills. And remember: this is your health, not just their profit.
🔚 Bottom Line
- Without insurance? $15,000 – $50,000+
- With insurance? Expect to still owe $1,000 – $7,000+
- Reconstruction is covered by law — but often underbilled
- Preventive mastectomies are covered if medically justified
- Don’t face this alone — use financial aid, patient advocates, and cancer support groups
