Because anesthesia billing is based on a formula, it’s almost impossible to give a one-size-fits-all cost estimate for general anesthesia. But there are some general guidelines.
Anesthesia for a 30-minute procedure will cost less than a five-hour surgery. It may cost less in a small city than in New York or San Francisco, and anesthesiology for a complicated operation with many potential complications will be more expensive than anesthesia for a routine procedure.
Most of this is beyond your control. But if you have Medicare, your costs will be much lower if you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan and receive medically necessary anesthesia. For example, suppose the anesthesiologist’s bill is $1000. Medicare will pay 80%, or $800. Your Medigap plan can cover the other $200.