The uterus is a pear-shaped wonder of an organ that has the potential to bring debilitating pain to many women.
If you’ve suffered from fibroids, abnormally heavy menstruation, chronic pelvic pain, or endometriosis, then a hysterectomy may be the last resort to improve your quality of life.
The overall cost of the surgery depends on the type of procedure. It can add up when you tack on the cost of physicians, hospitalization, and drug expenses.
With so many variables, estimating hysterectomy rates can be a nightmare. This, coupled with the lukewarm compliance of hospitals in disclosing prices, makes the process doubly difficult.
We’ve combed through the pricing estimates of hospitals across Alabama and put all the data together to give you a clear picture of the cost of hysterectomy in the state.
Table of Contents
- How Are Hysterectomy Costs Calculated?
- Springhill Medical Center, Mobile
- Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, Jefferson
- Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville
- Decatur Morgan Hospital, Decatur
- DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa
- Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Mobile
- Helen Keller Hospital, Sheffield
- East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika
- Coosa Valley Medical Center, Sylacauga
- Average Hysterectomy Cost in Alabama Hospitals
- What is a Hysterectomy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Find Fair Pricing for Hysterectomy in Alabama
How Are Hysterectomy Costs Calculated?
Hospitals consider several factors when generating a patient’s financial obligation:
- The length of time spent under anesthesia and in recovery
- The amount of insurance deductibles
- Unusual special care
- Supplies and medications required by physicians
- Unexpected medical conditions or surgical complications
- Size of the uterus
- Partial vs. total womb removal
- Removal of adnexal structures (ovaries and fallopian tubes)
Even within the same state, county, or health network, charges will vary because of:
- Negotiated payments with insurance providers
- Average wage index by geographic area
- Drug and supply costs contracts
- Amount of uncompensated care
The estimates below exclude other service provider charges, which are separate. The estimates focus on uninsured, self-paying cases because there’s no blanket figure for all negotiated insurance amounts.
Minimally Invasive Surgery vs. Open Abdominal Surgery
Minimally invasive hysterectomies are usually same-day procedures. You can therefore have a vaginal, laparoscopic, or robotic surgery in an outpatient facility—saving money on hospitalization.
Laparoscopic and robotic procedures have higher costs than vaginal hysterectomies because of:
- Specialist physician fees
- Specialized equipment needed
Open abdominal surgery costs are high because you will spend a longer time in the operating room under anesthesia. You will also spend a few days in inpatient recovery.
Insured vs. Uninsured Cost Differences
Insurance companies and hospitals negotiate payment deals behind closed doors, with no two deals being identical.
Going into surgery uninsured can mean huge out-of-pocket costs for you. You should always find out the total cost of the procedure and extra costs, such as prescriptions and post-op doctor visits.
Most insurance companies will cover medically necessary hysterectomies. However, prepare to pay a certain percentage of the bill as your copay.
Let’s break down uterine surgery costs by hospital.
Springhill Medical Center, Mobile
The cost of various laparoscopic hysterectomies at Springhill Medical Center ranges between $34,396.38 and $51,594.56.
Laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy with removal of tubes or ovaries ranges between $20,917.76 and $31,376.64.
The average cost for the six laparoscopic surgical procedures is $20,019.56 with a median cost of $19,237.20.
Springhill Medical Center in Mobile County has a Level III trauma designation and 209 beds.The family-owned medical center is the only tax-paying hospital in the Mobile, Alabama, area—supporting the community’s social programs.
You can reach out for pricing confirmation at (251) 461–2067 and speak to their friendly receptionists.
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, Jefferson
At Brookwood Baptist Medical Center in Jefferson, a hysterectomy costs, on average, $53,112.
The exact costs are individual and can go as low as $33,356 or as high as $99,219.
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center doesn’t have an overnight option for hysterectomies. Their physicians focus on minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgery. Robotic hysterectomies are a same-day procedure.
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center is a 595-bed facility in Jefferson County. It has a Level III trauma designation.
It is owned by Tenet Healthcare, which offers financial assistance to those who don’t have medical insurance through its Compact with Uninsured Patients program.
Under this program, uninsured patients get discounted local market rates. Patients can also expect reasonable payment schedules.
For more pricing information, you can reach the hospital at (833) 850–5052.
Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville
A laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy performed at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, costs $64,841.
Huntsville Hospital, which is in Madison County, has an 881-bed capacity. As the second largest hospital in Alabama, with a Level I trauma designation, it’s the regional referral center for North Alabama and Southern Tennessee.
It’s the flagship medical center within the Huntsville Hospital System.
You can reach out for pricing confirmation at (256) 801–6280 and speak to their friendly customer care representatives.
Decatur Morgan Hospital, Decatur
The Decatur Morgan Hospital offers laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomies at $71,052.
Decatur Morgan Hospital serves Morgan county and is an affiliate of the Huntsville Hospital System. With 286 beds and a Level III trauma designation, it’s one of the largest employers in the county—employing 1,300 staff members across its four locations.
You can contact the hospital for more information on pricing at (256) 801–6280.
DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa
The cost of a hysterectomy at the DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, starts at $4,705 for simpler procedures and can go up to $21,854, depending on the complexity of the surgery.
The average cost for the various surgical procedures is $7,561 with a median cost of $7,291.
The DCH Regional Medical Center has been in operation since 1923 in the county of Tuscaloosa. It has a Level III trauma designation and a 620-bed capacity.
You can contact the hospital at (205) 759–7111 for further pricing clarification.
Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Mobile
You can expect to pay approximately $13,955 for laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomies at the Mobile Infirmary Medical Center. Total laparoscopic hysterectomies cost $19,646.
Both cost estimates include the removal of one or both fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Mobile Infirmary Medical Center has a 681-bed capacity and a Level III trauma designation. As Infirmary Health’s flagship hospital, it continues the healthcare group’s century-long service in Mobile, Alabama.
You can make an appointment or request more pricing information at (251) 435–3541.
Helen Keller Hospital, Sheffield
Laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomies with the removal of tubes and ovaries cost $11,436 at the Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama.
Helen Keller Hospital, originally Colbert County Hospital, was founded in 1921. It’s a 185-bed facility with a Level III trauma designation. Having joined the Huntsville Hospital Health System in 2014, the hospital offers its patients beneficial access to quality care within the health network.
You can use their patient cost estimator tool or reach out for pricing confirmation at (256) 801–6280.
East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika
The removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries through laparoscopy costs $8,179 at the East Alabama Medical Center.
East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) opened its doors in 1952 under the name Lee County Hospital. The 339-bed hospital in Lee county has a Level III trauma designation.
For pricing confirmation, you can reach EAMC at (334) 528–7228.
Coosa Valley Medical Center, Sylacauga
A basic hysterectomy procedure at Coosa Valley Medical Center in Montgomery, Alabama, starts at $3,749.68. More complex removal surgeries can run up to $12,498.94 at the upper end.
Coosa Valley Medical Center is a 222-bed hospital in the county of Talladega and has a Level III trauma designation. It was built and opened during WWII and is the only non-military hospital in the US to have been built during the war.
For pricing confirmation, reach out at (256) 401–4017.
Average Hysterectomy Cost in Alabama Hospitals
The table lists all hospitals in Alabama that offer hysterectomies, arranged from lowest to highest average cost.
| Hospitals | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost | Average Cost |
| Noland Hospital Dothan | $1,029.40 | $1,029.40 | $1,029.40 |
| Noland Hospital Birmingham | $1,278.66 | $1,278.66 | $1,278.66 |
| Mobile Infirmary Medical Center | $1,600 | $1,600 | $1,600 |
| Huntsville Hospital System | $2,640.00 | $2,640.00 | $2,640.00 |
| Monroe County Hospital | $2,670 | $2,670 | $2,670 |
| East Alabama Medical Center | $3,575.02 | $5,415.00 | $4,495.01 |
| Red Bay Hospital | $6,273 | $6,273 | $6,273 |
| Coosa Valley Medical Center | $3,749.68 | $12,498.94 | $8,124.31 |
| Tanner Medical Center East Alabama | $3,956.91 | $15,241.20 | $9,599.06 |
| Encompass Health Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital | $16,240 | $16,513 | $16,377 |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital | $18,695 | $18,695 | $18,695 |
| Brookwood Baptist Medical Center | $8,658.43 | $44,475.18 | $26,566.81 |
| Springhill Medical Center | $35,042.03 | $52,563.05 | $43,802.54 |
What is a Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the entire uterus. The procedure sometimes includes the removal of the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
Hysterectomies are the most common surgery performed in gynecology globally. They apply in cases of benign indications where other treatments have failed or in gynecologic cancer cases.
Hysterectomies are the last recourse for gynecologic conditions that don’t respond to non-invasive forms of treatment, such as hormone therapy and endometrial ablation.
The type of hysterectomy you need will depend on how severe your condition is.
Here is a table summarizing the types of hysterectomies, and conditions treated.
| Type Of Hysterectomy | Procedure | Condition Being Treated |
| Subtotal or partial hysterectomy |
|
|
| Total Hysterectomy |
|
|
|
Hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
|
|
| Radical hysterectomy |
|
|
| Hysterectomy with prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy | Removal uterus and fallopian tubes |
|
A surgeon can choose one of four ways to perform a hysterectomy:
- Vaginal hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic hysterectomy
- Robotic assisted hysterectomy
- Abdominal hysterectomy
Alternative treatments are progressively eliminating the need for a benign hysterectomy—uterine removal performed for non-cancerous reasons.
Vaginal Hysterectomy
A vaginal hysterectomy involves the removal of your uterus through an incision at the top of the vagina. Dissolvable stitches are placed at the top of the vagina thereafter.
It takes advantage of the natural body opening, thus it is minimally invasive and has the fastest recovery (up to four weeks)
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a vaginal hysterectomy has the best outcomes with fewer complications.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the surgeon inserts a thin tube with a video camera on one end (laparoscope) through a small incision in your belly button. The surgeon also inserts surgical tools through other small incisions in the abdomen.
Through these small incisions, the surgeon removes the uterus and any other tissues in small pieces.
Since the incisions are small, laparoscopic hysterectomy is minimally invasive. It has a shorter recovery period and leaves less scar tissue than other options.
A surgeon may use a laparoscope during a vaginal hysterectomy to provide a clearer view of the uterus and surrounding organs. This is called a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).
Robotic Assisted Hysterectomy
In a robotic assisted hysterectomy, the surgeon inserts a laparoscope through a small incision in the belly button.
With the aid of a robotic machine, the surgeon inserts small, thin instruments through small incisions around the belly button. They then remove the uterus in tiny pieces.
Robotic assisted surgery is minimally invasive and more accurate than other procedures, causing less scar tissue because the tools used are tiny.
Abdominal Hysterectomy
An abdominal hysterectomy is an open surgery where the surgeon makes a six- to eight-inch incision in the abdomen, through which the uterus is removed.
Common indications that someone may require an abdominal hysterectomy include:
- Advanced cancer
- Enlarged womb and fibroids
- Disease spread to other pelvic areas
- Scarring from prior abdominal surgery
Minimally invasive surgery is preferable to open surgery in cases of benign disease. They cause fewer complications, such as blood loss. Faster recovery periods are also beneficial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare Cover Hysterectomies?
Medicare covers hysterectomies when a doctor determines that it’s medically necessary to treat a condition. Elective hysterectomies for purposes of sterilization aren’t covered.
Medicare has 80% / 20% co-insurance. If you don’t have supplemental health insurance, you have to pay 20% out of pocket for the procedure.
How Much Does a Hysterectomy Cost in Alabama?
Hysterectomies in Alabama range between $3,000 and $99,000. The huge gap between the upper and lower limits is due to varying complexity of the surgeries, negotiated amounts with insurance companies, in-house discounting, and geographic wage index among other factors.
Can You Get a Hysterectomy Without Insurance?
You can get a hysterectomy procedure without health insurance. Most hospitals offer financial assistance to patients who are uninsured or have challenges paying for the surgery. Some hospitals give discounted rates while others subsidize payments or stagger the bill through payment schedules.
What Makes a Hysterectomy Medically Necessary?
When conditions affecting the reproductive organs are unmanageable, high risk, or life threatening, then a womb removal procedure is necessary. These conditions include cancer, chronic and severe pain, or bleeding.
How Long Are You out of Work for a Hysterectomy?
For minimally invasive hysterectomies, you’ll go home on the same day. Abdominal hysterectomies require hospitalization for two to three days. Vaginal hysterectomies heal fastest (four weeks) while the rest take six to eight weeks.
Find Fair Pricing for Hysterectomies in Alabama
The disparity between the hospitals’ charges shows the lack of transparency and unfair pricing within the healthcare industry.
Despite the price transparency rule which came into effect in January 2021, the majority of hospitals are non-compliant. Many others that claim compliance do so in pages and documents that are not searchable via Google and are difficult to comprehend.
Our price breakdown should serve as a jumpoff point for you to investigate your financial responsibility and understand the healthcare avenues open to you. With these figures, it will be easier to find the best fit for your medical needs.
Photo by: Freepik from tirachardz