2026 Forecast Verified

Open Heart Surgery Cost in Montana (2026)

In line with national pricing · Regional price parity: 97.5 · MT

Montana Average
$146,250
▼ -2.5% below national
Typical Range
$78,000 – $243,750
National avg: $150,000
Editorial view of Montana
Regional Pricing Confidence
88% Confidence Index
The Montana Market

What Drives Pricing Here

Three factors explain most of why open heart surgery costs what it does in Montana.

Regional Price Parity

Montana's cost-of-living index sits at 97.5 — meaningfully below the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.

Specialist Availability

Limited local facility options in Montana can reduce price competition. Consider quotes from neighboring states if the travel is feasible.

Vs. National Benchmark

At -2.5% below the national average ($150,000), Montana is a discount market. Often driven by lower overhead or less metro concentration — quality can still be excellent.

State Context

Open Heart Surgery in Montana: What to Know

Open heart surgery in Montana offers robust options. Billings Clinic, performing over 15,000 surgeries since 1972, is a recognized HeartCARE Center of Excellence. Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula boasts a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for mitral valve surgery. Great Falls Hospital, as of 2026, offers the innovative Ross procedure, allowing patients to receive this advanced aortic valve replacement in-state. St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings also launched robotic heart surgery and performed its first Ross procedures in 2023.

While Montana's costs are slightly below the national average, consider contacting facilities like St. Vincent Healthcare for their minimally-invasive options, which can sometimes reduce overall expenses. Medicaid and HMK Plus members can also receive financial assistance for transportation costs within Montana. Verify current pricing directly with providers.

Itemized Breakdown

Estimated Cost Breakdown in Montana

Pricing for open heart surgery in Montana is roughly in line with the rest of the country. Here's the breakdown.

Hospital Stay

Per-night inpatient cost

$35,831 - $66,544

Most significant cost

Surgeon Fee

Expertise and experience level

$20,475 - $38,025

Implants & Supplies

$15,355 - $28,519

Operating Room

OR and equipment time

$15,355 - $28,519

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee

$8,190 - $15,210

Post-Op Care

Recovery and aftercare

$7,166 - $13,309

Total Estimated Cost

Montana all-in range

$78,000 – $243,750

Financing Options

Many Montana clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $146,250 looks like:

$6,094/mo
Est. 24 months · 0% APR promo
  • Soft credit check — no hard pull
  • Instant approval decisions
  • HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases

Prices reflect regional cost-of-living adjustments. How we calculate these numbers →

Ranges adjusted for Montana's regional price parity (97.5). See the national percentage breakdown →

Hospital-Level Data

Facility Costs in Montana

CMS Medicare data shows limited facility options for open heart surgery in Montana. Fewer providers can mean less price competition.

Facility City Negotiated Rate Medicare Volume
St Patrick Hospital Missoula $60,385 $57,165 45
Billings Clinic Hospital Billings $59,784 $58,136 12
St Vincent Healthcare Billings $79,901 $69,259 12
Regional Comparison

Open Heart Surgery Cost in Nearby States

Montana runs close to the national average for open heart surgery, but it's the pricier option compared to its immediate neighbors.

Common Questions

Expert Answers for Montana Patients

Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to Montana.

Compare Montana with any other state

See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main open heart surgery cost guide.

View full open heart surgery guide
What is the average price of open heart surgery in Montana?
Expect to budget around $146,250 for open heart surgery in Montana. The typical range spans $78,000 to $243,750 — where you land depends on your provider, whether you choose a hospital or outpatient center, and the specifics of your case.
Does insurance cover open heart surgery?
Insurance typically picks up most of the tab for open heart surgery when it's medically indicated. In Montana, confirm your surgeon is in-network and get pre-authorization before scheduling to avoid surprise bills.
How long is recovery after open heart surgery?
Most Montana patients need 42 to 120 days to fully recover from open heart surgery. Your surgeon will schedule follow-ups during this window to monitor healing. At Montana's cost of living (RPP 97.5), lost wages during recovery can be a significant hidden cost — budget for that alongside the procedure itself.
Are payment plans available for open heart surgery in Montana?
Financing open heart surgery in Montana is straightforward. Options include medical credit lines (CareCredit, Alphaeon Credit), your surgeon's in-house installment plan, or HSA/FSA dollars if the procedure has a medical component. Always compare the total cost with interest against a cash-pay discount.
Is it worth traveling to another state for open heart surgery?
Potentially. Wyoming averages $141,750 for open heart surgery — a 3% savings over Montana. Whether it's worth the drive depends on how close you are to the border and whether you can arrange follow-up care locally.
Is open heart surgery covered under Montana's Medicaid program?
Montana Medicaid may cover open heart surgery when it's medically necessary and your doctor provides supporting documentation. Coverage details vary by managed care plan, so check directly with your Medicaid provider for pre-authorization steps.
Is open heart surgery eligible for HSA/FSA funds?
HSA and FSA accounts work for open heart surgery as long as there's medical necessity. Given Montana's $146,250 average, pre-tax payment through your health savings account is worth pursuing — the tax benefit alone could cover your follow-up care costs.
Data Sources & References

How we calculate open heart surgery costs in Montana

Cost estimates combine procedure-specific pricing data with regional cost-of-living and provider-supply adjustments. Primary sources:

  • Hospital pricing transparency files — CMS-required machine-readable data published by hospitals under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (effective January 2021). Provides actual negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers.
  • HCUP (Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project)AHRQ's HCUP databases provide nationally-representative procedure cost data by state, payer, and patient demographics.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics — Healthcare Practitioner Occupational WagesBLS OEWS data on surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical staff wages by state, used to model regional labor-cost differences in procedure pricing.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP)U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis state-level price-level indices, used to adjust national procedure averages for Montana's cost-of-living relative to the national mean.
  • FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup — the FAIR Health database aggregates billed and allowed amounts from over 36 billion claim records, providing a check on procedure-cost ranges by ZIP code.
  • Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment DataCMS public-use files on Medicare-allowed amounts and submitted charges by HCPCS/CPT code and state, used as a baseline for procedure-cost ranges.

Estimates are illustrative and reflect typical pricing ranges; actual costs depend on insurance coverage, surgical complexity, anesthesia type, hospital vs. ambulatory setting, and individual patient factors. Always confirm pricing directly with providers and your insurance carrier. See our methodology page for full calculation details.

Compare Open Heart Surgery Cost in Every State