Acute Ischemic Stroke Thrombectomy Cost Calculator
This calculator estimates the out-of-pocket cost of acute-phase treatment for an ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction) in Korea, keeping the same pure calculation model as the Korean page for mechanical thrombectomy (stent retriever or aspiration), thrombectomy plus an emergency intracranial stent, intravenous thrombolysis (IV tPA) bridged to thrombectomy, and IV tPA alone. Mechanical thrombectomy is the standard treatment for a large-vessel-occlusion stroke, is covered by Korean National Health Insurance, and is further reduced by the cerebrovascular-disease special-case program (code V191) on 2026 Korean rules.
Procedure types and covered fees
Mechanical thrombectomy removes the clot directly with a stent retriever or an aspiration catheter. The model uses about KRW 2,000,000 for the procedure fee (including cerebral angiography), KRW 3,500,000 for the base material set (guiding catheter, microcatheter, aspiration catheter, guidewire), and KRW 2,500,000 per stent-retriever pass, plus a covered imaging set (CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, MRI) of KRW 1,500,000 and covered ward fees of KRW 400,000 per intensive-care day and KRW 150,000 per general-ward day. A standard case (one device pass, three ICU days, seven ward days) has a covered total of roughly KRW 11,750,000, so the 5 percent special-case self-pay is about KRW 587,500.
If residual stenosis of 70 percent or more remains after clot removal, an emergency intracranial stent is added (about KRW 4,000,000), which raises the material cost and requires dual antiplatelet therapy afterward. IV tPA (alteplase or tenecteplase, about KRW 600,000) can be given first within 4.5 hours and bridged to thrombectomy. IV tPA alone, used when there is no large-vessel occlusion, is much cheaper (covered total around KRW 3,650,000).
- Procedure fee: about KRW 2,000,000 (KRW 2,400,000 when a stent is placed).
- Stent-retriever/aspiration material: KRW 2,500,000 per pass; 1 to 3 passes by clot.
- Emergency intracranial stent: about KRW 4,000,000 (covered).
- Covered ICU fee KRW 400,000/day, general ward KRW 150,000/day; acute imaging set KRW 1,500,000.
Cerebrovascular special-case copay (V191) and the 30-day limit
The Ministry of Health and Welfare notice on special copay calculation (Notice 2026-101, effective 1 May 2026) lists “percutaneous thrombectomy (codes M6630, M6632, M6635, M6636, M6637, M6639)” in the cerebrovascular-disease surgery table, so acute stroke thrombectomy qualifies for special case V191 and the covered copay drops from the ordinary inpatient 20 percent to 5 percent of the total covered charge. Unlike the cancer special case (5 years), the cerebrovascular special case applies for at most 30 days from the surgery date, and cardiac/cerebrovascular special cases apply automatically through the hospital claim with no separate registration.
The 5 percent applies only to covered items. Upper-grade room surcharges, caregiver fees, and other non-covered items are always fully self-paid, and after the 30 days end, follow-up outpatient care, medication, and rehabilitation return to the ordinary copay rate. Severe intracerebral hemorrhage (I60–I62) admitted in the acute phase can also qualify even without one of the listed surgeries.
The treatment time window (golden time)
For thrombectomy, the time to reperfusion drives the outcome — “time is brain.” Within 6 hours of onset is the standard covered window; between 6 and 24 hours it can still be covered when imaging (infarct volume or perfusion mismatch) shows salvageable tissue. IV thrombolysis is generally given within 4.5 hours. The onset-window input is informational only and does not change the cost, but it frames the clinical eligibility.
Shortening the door-to-puncture time improves outcomes, so a suspected stroke should be taken to a stroke center immediately. For wake-up strokes with an unknown onset time, MRI (DWI-FLAIR mismatch) is used to judge eligibility.
Ceiling, indemnity, caregiver cost, rehabilitation, and tax credit
The 2026 annual out-of-pocket ceiling ranges from about KRW 900,000 (income decile 1) to KRW 8,430,000 (decile 10) and refunds covered self-pay above the cap, usually the following August. Thrombectomy is reimbursed as inpatient medical expense by private indemnity insurance (the ceiling-refunded amount is not double-paid, and upper-grade room surcharges are usually reimbursed only up to 50 percent). Caregiver fees are non-covered, are not subject to the ceiling, and are not reimbursed by inpatient indemnity insurance.
After the acute phase, recovery-phase rehabilitation follows for roughly 4 to 12 weeks; once the 30-day special case ends, rehabilitation is generally billed at the ordinary 20 percent inpatient rate (about KRW 1,000,000 per month on a KRW 5,000,000 covered monthly total). The Korean medical expense tax credit (Income Tax Act Article 59-4) refunds 15 percent of expense above 3 percent of salary, on the self-pay remaining after indemnity and ceiling refunds; a family member who paid can claim it.
How to read the result
Enter the procedure type (thrombectomy, thrombectomy with stent, bridging, or IV tPA alone), the number of device passes, the onset window, the special-case status, ICU and general-ward days, hospital level, insurance type, upper-grade room and caregiver days, private indemnity generation, income decile, and salary. The result shows covered and non-covered self-pay, the special-case 5 percent versus 20 percent comparison, the thrombectomy versus IV-tPA-alone comparison, the recovery rehabilitation projection, the ceiling refund, and the final cost after indemnity and tax credit.
This is a cost-planning estimate based on 2026 Korean rules, not medical advice. Public single-price tables for thrombectomy do not exist, so procedure, material, and total figures are defensible market-estimate ranges that vary with hospital, device count, length of stay, and patient condition. Confirm details with the treating physician, the insurer, and the hospital quote.
This calculator is based on Korean rules (2026 National Health Insurance covered fees, the cerebrovascular special case V191 at 5 percent for 30 days per Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice 2026-101, the annual out-of-pocket ceiling, and Income Tax Act Article 59-4 medical expense tax credit). Figures are planning estimates, not medical advice, an insurer decision, or a hospital quote.