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What is a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T and A)?

The tonsils are two round balls of tissue at the back of your throat. The adenoids sit high in your throat and are located behind the nose. 

Tonsils and adenoids protect the body from disease and function as part of the immune system. Occasionally, they can get infected, causing swelling and pain. If the tonsils and adenoids are too large, it can make breathing and swallowing difficult. 

When infections become very frequent or tonsil size causes too many problems, your doctor might recommend a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. This is a surgical procedure that removes the tonsils and adenoids at the same time. The procedure doesn’t require any incisions outside the skin because the surgeon can simply reach inside the patient’s mouth. 

It’s possible to remove just the tonsils or adenoids. Since the tonsils and adenoids perform a similar function and are located close together, it can be difficult for doctors to know which one is responsible for the problems. Therefore, they usually recommend removing both at the same time to avoid future surgery.

Does it hurt to get your tonsils and adenoids removed?

How long do the tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery take?

How long do you stay in the hospital after a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy?

How long does it take to recover from a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy?

What should I expect after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery?

Are there side effects to having your tonsils and adenoids removed?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

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