Why scheduling elective surgery strategically could save you money

Todd Haner

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As the end of the calendar year looms, it becomes harder to schedule most surgeries, especially elective ones, because doctors and facilities book up. Patients who are waiting on elective procedures should investigate the timing now with their insurance companies, while there are still spaces available.”

As the end of the year approaches, like most people, you’re probably planning to use your remaining vacation time and looking forward to upcoming holidays, so you may be surprised to learn that now is also a great time to have and/or schedule elective surgery.

Why?

If you’ve met your 2025 health insurance deductible(s), you could save significantly on out-of-pocket medical costs by scheduling elective procedures before Dec. 31, especially if you’re mindful of your health insurance plan and its benefits. 

Here’s how scheduling elective surgery now could help you maximize your health insurance benefits before the end of 2025:

Deductible: Many health insurance plans operate on a calendar year basis. This means your deductible, the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance starts covering costs, resets on Jan. 1.

Out-of-pocket maximum: Similarly, most plans have an out-of-pocket maximum — the absolute most you’ll pay for covered services in a year before your insurance covers 100% of the cost.

Strategic scheduling: If you’ve already met a significant portion, or even all, of your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum by this point in the year, scheduling your elective surgery before the year ends (typically Dec. 31 but this applies to whenever your coverage year ends) could mean your insurance covers a larger portion of the costs.

As the end of the calendar year looms, it becomes harder to schedule most surgeries, especially elective ones, because doctors and facilities book up. Patients who are waiting on elective procedures should investigate the timing now with their insurance companies, while there are still spaces available.

The decision to have surgery is an individual one, and not to be taken lightly. But as we approach the final months of 2025, consider these reasons to have surgery now.

It’s always best to have a thorough discussion with your doctor(s) and insurance provider to make informed decisions about the best time for surgery and the best ways to maximize your financial benefits.

Editor’s note: Todd Haner is Arizona group chief nursing officer at Abrazo Health. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.