How Much Does a Vasectomy Cost, and Can It Be Covered by Insurance?

A vasectomy is more than just a medical procedure that can prevent pregnancy; it’s a choice that reflects personal and family planning goals. Here, you can learn about a vasectomy’s cost, its effectiveness in preventing a potentially unplanned pregnancy, and how insurance will factor into the equation.

Vasectomy Effectiveness

A vasectomy is one of the most effective method of birth control, with a failure rate of less than one percent. Some of the most common forms of birth control and their failure rates include:

Contraception Method	Failure Rate
Hormonal Implant	0.05%
Sterilization (Vasectomy)	0.15% – 0.5%
IUD	0.2% – 0.8%
Standard Birth Control Pills	9%
Vaginal Ring	9%
Male Condom	18%

Source: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Vasectomy?

 

Procedure Costs

According to Planned Parenthood, vasectomy procedures can cost up to $1000 or, in some cases, even more. Factors like vasectomy type, your insurance plan, and where the surgical procedure is performed (healthcare provider’s office, hospital, clinic, etc.) can all affect the price.

Post-Procedure Costs

After a vasectomy, there are other costs to consider, including:

• Follow-Up Visits
• Pain-Reducing Medicine

• Semen Analysis Testing (Sometimes more than one follow up semen check is required)

Also, most men take a few days or even a week off work to allow for healing. Depending on your profession, you should factor this time off of work into your expected cost. 

Vasectomy Reversal

A vasectomy reversal is a more complex procedure than the original vasectomy, and it typically comes with a higher price tag. Vasectomy reversals are also less likely to be covered by insurance. 

 

Is a Vasectomy Covered by Insurance?

Not all health insurance plans are created equal. While some insurance companies may fully cover the cost of a vasectomy, others may only cover part of the expense, and some may not cover it at all.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

If you have health insurance through your employer, it’s worth checking the specifics of your plan. Many employer-sponsored insurance plans do provide some coverage for a vasectomy.

Medicaid and Medicare

Medicaid tends to fully or partially cover the cost of a vasectomy. The exact amounts covered by Medicaid typically depend on your location and individual circumstances.

Medicare is unlikely to cover the cost of a vasectomy. Medicare Parts A and B classify vasectomies as elective procedures and therefore do not cover them. Some Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans may cover or partially cover the procedure, but coverage is not guaranteed. 

Additional Options

Some other payment options include:

• Payment Plans: Some vasectomy providers may offer payment plans to help spread the cost of your vasectomy out over time. For many, these consistent and smaller payments are more manageable than one lump sum.
• HSAs and FSAs: If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), your saved funds can be used to foot a vasectomy bill.

 

3 Tips to Help Keep Your Vasectomy Bill Low

1. It is essential to find an in-network provider to maximize your insurance benefits. Going out-of-network may result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

2. Contact your insurance provider directly. This way, they can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information about what is covered under your specific plan.

3. If you find yourself required to pay for the procedure out-of-pocket, utilize a credit card with high percentage cash-back rewards and/or low-interest rates. 

The decision to get a vasectomy is a significant one, and understanding the financial aspects early in the planning process will help prevent any surprises down the road. Many insurance plans do cover vasectomies, but it’s important to consult with both your insurance and healthcare providers to best understand if a vasectomy is the cost effective method for your particular situation.