Surgery is one of the biggest drivers of healthcare costs—we dug into what the experience looks like for working Americans

We heard from 1,100+ people navigating surgery—either fresh from post-procedure or with preparing for care—to understand their experiences, challenges, and outlook. What we found:  the hidden costs of surgery are mounting across the industry and impeding improved surgery outcomes for many employers. It’s time to bring these obstacles into the light and transparently discuss how to overcome them.

Simplify surgical costs with predictable, prospective value-based bundles 

1/3 of respondents who recently underwent surgery indicated they had received at least one surprise or unexpected bill.  

• Prospective value-based bundles make costs more predictable for employers and employees.  

• Consolidating all components of a surgical episode—facility, anesthesiologist, surgeon, and more—into one streamlined payment reduces the risk of unexpected out-of-network provider bills slipping through the cracks.  

Reduce the risk of post-operative complications 

We found that 1/3 of employees who had surgery experienced post-operative complications  

• Surgical complications can happen for many reasons—some are unavoidable, but many are preventable.  

• Evaluating adherence to clinical best practices and established protocols, along with a commitment to appropriate care, helps reduce the risk of avoidable complications. 

• Transcarent mitigates the risk of complications by focusing on three things:  

  • Appropriateness (is the person right for surgery)  2. Quality (is the surgeon right for the patient?) 

  • Providing clinical guidance at every stage of the journey

Redirect or avoid costly post-operative care 

Of those that experienced complications, 43% sought emergency room care. 

• The best way to avoid costly post-operative care is to avoid complications altogether. 

• But, as stated, sometimes they are unavoidable, and seeking urgent or emergency room care is common, especially when you don’t know where to turn.  

• Transcarent offers convenient urgent care: at home or virtually. 

For a deeper dive into the financial and clinical costs of surgery and more on what employers can do to improve the employee experience, read the blog, “Hidden Costs of Surgery: How Employers Can Deliver Better Outcomes, Predictable Costs, and Happier Employees”.