At least 98% of vasectomy reversal patients are without insurance coverage for this procedure. Consequently, cost control is extremely important. Our total cost for bilateral vasectomy reversals by microsurgical vasovasostomies was $8,400 in 2001 and 2002. We subsequently reduced our total costs by $900.00 after the downturn in the nation’s economy. We are still charging only $7,500, but our economy is improving. Although I anticipated this discount would be decreased or removed entirely by the end of 2005, we currently plan to keep our charge at the $7,500 through June 2006.

If your employer says that you have insurance coverage and you wish to assign it in lieu of full payment, then you must obtain written confirmation of your coverage and benefits. You will still need to pay all remaining deductible and/or disallowed amounts, and any co-payments prior to surgery. Obtaining this information is often quite frustrating. We will assist you with a prepared letter for you to send to your insurance company. We will not schedule your surgery until written confirmation of coverage and benefits is received, unless you are prepared to pay the entire charge regardless of insurance coverage.

Cash, cashier’s or personal checks, and money orders are always acceptable, and these are definitely our preferred methods of payment. Major credit cards (AE, MC, VISA, and Discover) are also accepted, but must be processed one working day before surgery. Payment by patient loans from financing companies are accepted up to a maximum of $7,000. Their "no interest" loans are not acceptable.

Your reversal surgery will currently cost a "turnkey" total of $7,500. The bilateral surgical fee is $5,000 and the remaining $2500 pays the facility, anesthesia, and administrative costs. After payment of the non-refundable scheduling deposit of $500, which applies to the $7,500, there will be a balance of $7,000. This is to be paid before surgery to: DONALD R. POHL, M.D. The initial office visit to determine your prognosis has a separate $75 charge.

We advise patients who want a loan to accept an introductory "zero interest rate" offer, if they receive these from credit card companies soliciting new business. The next best loan terms would come from the patient's personal bank or credit union.

Until recently loans for surgical procedures without collateral have been either unavailable, or the terms have been quite unacceptable. GOOD NEWS!!! We have found three separate and independent financing companies providing credit for vasectomy reversals with loans up to our maximum of $7000. All three have different, but acceptable terms for repayment of these loans. They also have their own criteria for determining a patient's credit worthiness. The non- refundable scheduling deposit of $500 is not to be included in these loans.

Unfortunately, a recent divorce often damages a patient's credit. If the patient's new wife or fiancée has better credit than the patient, it is often better having her apply for the loan. In order to make valid comparisons we recommend applying for the same amount, up to a maximum loan of $7000, from all three of these financing companies. They will either promptly decline the loan application or promptly reply with the amount approved, the interest rate, the amount and number of payments, and any fees. The patient then selects the loan which best meets his needs. Two of these companies offer "no interest options" to patients. These must be disregarded. The company takes their profit from the surgeon's fee, which is not acceptable to us.

The prognosis for each of my patients is determined by my pre-operative examination of his vasectomy sites besides consideration of the time interval between vasectomy and reversal. If a patient has a sperm granuloma at one of his vasectomy sites, the time interval becomes almost unimportant. If there is no granuloma at either vasectomy site, the prognosis is then based completely on the time interval since the vasectomy. I define a sperm granuloma as a hard knot at least the size of a BB-gun BB, often a little larger, at the tip of the lower vas end, which is usually next to the top of the testicle. A local urologist can easily determine whether you have 0, 1, or 2 sperm granulomas by a painless examination of each vasectomy site. This exam can be fairly inexpensive, if you inform his office in advance that this is the only service you wish and you obtain the cost for only this specific examination. If the interval since your vasectomy is less than fifteen years, your prognosis will be 70% or better and this local examination is probably not needed. A sperm granuloma develops from post-vasectomy sperm leakage and somehow it behaves like a safety valve preventing internal pressure build up and ruptures of the delicate epididymis tubules with subsequent obstructive scarring.

Your prognosis will become valid only after my examination before surgery confirms the diagnosis of sperm granuloma(s) obtained elsewhere. If the patient has an unrecognized granuloma, I will immediately upgrade his prognosis. If a granuloma is incorrectly described elsewhere as being present, I must reserve the right to correct this error and make the appropriate correction of the prognosis. This is quite uncommon, but possible.