Knee replacement surgery is popular nowadays because most people in their old age experience issues with their knee joints. Knee replacement is a surgery in which a complete or partial knee is transplanted with another knee, also known as arthroplasty. It is usually replaced in case of extreme pain, joint pain, arthritis, no mobility, etc. Patients looking for knee replacement surgery in Oman must be aware of the cost of it. Several factors can influence the cost of knee replacement surgery in Oman.
Cost Range for Knee Replacement Surgery in Oman
The cost of knee replacement in Oman depends on various factors, but on average, the usual cost for the complete knee replacement is around $7,500 to $20,500. This range varies as the quality of hospitals, the experience of the surgeon, recovery time, etc. There are three types of knee replacements: partial, complete, and bilateral knee replacement. For every type of knee replacement, there is a different cost of surgery.
- Partial Knee Replacement: It costs around $4,400 to $6,400 in Oman
- Complete Knee Replacement: It costs a little less, around $3100 to $5100
- Bilateral Knee Replacement: It costs an individual around $4,800 to $6,100.
Expenses like post-surgery medicines and sessions of physiotherapy will cost you additionally. And premium facilities or experienced surgeons may charge higher fees.
Factors Affecting Knee Replacement Surgery Costs in Oman
There can be multiple key factors that influence the total cost of knee replacement surgery in Oman:
Location of Hospital: Location matters a lot, as the hospitals in metro cities are generally higher in cost. But they do have top-level amenities and services.
Type of Hospital: The type of hospital is one of the major things because private hospitals are generally higher in cost than public hospitals. The waiting queue is also shorter in private hospitals.
Experience of Surgeon: An Experienced orthopedic surgeon of orthopedics will charge more fees than a less experienced surgeon. Because more experience always results in a more precise outcome.
Type of Implant: In Oman, there is are availability of many types of grafts that range from OMR 900 to OMR 1300. High-quality implants last longer but cost more at the time of surgery.
Surgical Technique: Traditional surgery methods are cheaper than the modern ones with computer-assisted minimally invasive surgeries.
Stay Duration: Usually, a patient stays for 4 to 5 days after knee replacement, but due to any circumstances, it extended, the hospital stay cost will be additional. It would be out of a box expense if you had not planned your trip well.
Healthcare Insurance Coverage for Knee Replacement Surgery
Several health insurance plans in Oman cover this surgery, as well as international coverage plans for international tourists also cover this surgery. But it advised to patient to thoroughly check their insurance plan and coverage whether all of the things are covered in it or not. Patients may check the following things to obtain a smooth flow during treatment;
- Authorization before treatment
- Percentage of coverage for stay, surgery, and implant.
- Restriction of hospitals
- Obligations of payments
- Are physiotherapy and post-operative care covered or not?
Government and military personnel are subsidized by public hospitals, or referred to a private hospital on the same criteria. Private hospitals generally cover 70-90% for civilians.
Additional Costs to Consider in Oman
Apart from the base surgery cost, there are some additional costs too for knee replacement. Some of the things related to additional expenses are listed below:
- Pre-operative Assessment: Consultation from a doctor and all the required tests, X-rays, and blood tests will be performed, which can cost you around OMR 250-350.
- Post-operative Care: Monitoring cost, follow-up appointments, and wound care may cost you around OMR 150-320
- Rehabilitation: Staying in Rehabilitation for a few days will cost you additional
- Physiotherapy: Sessions of physiotherapy are essential in the early days after surgery. In Oman, physiotherapy will cost you around OMR 20-25 per session. And in the initial phase of recovery, at least 20-25 sessions are required for better healing.
- Medications: Medicines related to pain management, nutritional medicines, and supplement tablets may cost you around OMR 170-350 post-surgery.
- Support Equipment: Knee braces, crutches, and walkers will cost you around OMR 60-220, depending on requirements.
Comparing Public vs. Private Healthcare in Oman
Public healthcare facilities in Oman are usually cheaper in cost, operated by the government. But private hospitals in Oman are more costly than those because they provide much more services, better care, and precise and latest equipment. However, waiting times in public hospitals are unexpectedly longer, sometimes for months.
What makes the Private hospitals a better choice?
Multiple factors show that private hospitals are a better choice over public hospitals, except for the financial factor:
- Waiting time is much shorter for surgeries and treatments.
- Accommodations are comfortable, and lots of hospitality services.
- Experienced surgeon, and we can have our own choice among all of them.
- Advanced equipment and robotics
- Highly personalised care according to each patient.
If a patient has a suitable insurance plan, then it’s easier for them to choose a private hospital rather than public healthcare.
Tips for Managing Surgery Costs
An individual looking for the surgery can do a few things to manage the knee replacement surgery cost effectively:
- Research and Compare: Collect the detailed quotations of pricing from top hospitals in that area, to analyze which one provides more facilities at a lower cost.
- Optimising the Health Insurance: Consult with your insurance provider for maximum coverage and know about any hidden costs or considerations.
- Planning of Payment: Payment could be made every month in many hospitals. Carefully check the payment guidelines of the particular hospital.
- Medical Tourism Considerations: Some patients from other countries that don’t have high-level medical facilities there prefer to have their treatment abroad. It may result in unexpected challenges which can affect he financial planning too.
- Timing: Most of the hospitals in Oman offer a promotional discount during the off-seasons, when there are very low numbers of beds occupied. So if it’s not that urgent, you can consult your doctor to delay the surgery. And, you can also have a hyaluronic acid injection for knee pain to reduce the pain for a few weeks.
Conclusion
Knee replacement surgery in Oman can be a significant decision, because it can change someone’s life, quality of life. If a person is having a mobility issue and difficulty in movement due to issues in the knee joint, this surgery will be the best decision. Oman provides good medical services in public healthcare as well as in private healthcare. Oman will cost you around OMR 2900-7900, which is significantly lower in price compared to other Western countries.