LA Harbor News

• The majority of Americans receiving health insurance from their employer are subject to an annual deductible.
• If you've already met your deductible, you have the opportunity to save healthcare costs at the end of the year.
• If you're struggling with sinusitis, a balloon sinuplasty is a quick, in-office procedure that many medical insurance companies cover in some form.

One strategy for cutting costs before the end of the year is to make the most of your health insurance if you've met your deductible. Many sinusitis sufferers have the opportunity to treat their issues at a lower cost during this time, and Dr. Farhad Sigari of Del Rey MD said a balloon sinuplasty procedure is highly effective for sinusitis patients.

"Instead of removing a significant portion of sinus tissue, which is the traditional approach, we locate the sinus opening and gently widen it," Sigari told LA Harbor News. "This method is effective in 98% of cases, and in nearly 90% of instances, patients are highly satisfied with the results. Overall, this approach minimizes the removal of nasal tissue and addresses the root issue–blocked openings; it aims to minimize patient discomfort and pain after the procedure. We've successfully performed these procedures on a wide range of patients, including a 94-year-old and a pregnant woman in the middle of her pregnancy."

Balloon sinuplasty, alternatively named balloon catheter dilation, is a method designed to alleviate blocked sinuses, according to Healthline. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005, this relatively new procedure is often colloquially known as the "smart sinus" technique. It's minimally invasive, and can be completed in an in-office setting.

In its 2014 statement, the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) advocated for the inclusion of balloon sinuplasty as a standard covered service by all insurance providers.

According to GoodRX, not only does a balloon sinuplasty cost much less than other traditional sinus procedures, but many insurance companies are now offering either partial or complete coverage of the treatment.

As stated on Del Rey MD's website, Dr. Sigari earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, San Diego, where he conducted award-winning research on heart disease. His medical education took place at Chicago Medical School, where he recieved degrees in medicine, applied physiology, and pathology. Throughout this period, Dr. Sigari received accolades such as the Dean's Award and the Alpha Omega Alpha Award. Subsequently, he completed his surgical internship training with a focus on otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the University of Chicago Hospital.