How Much Does Medtronic Intellis Cost?

Published on October 8, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Medical Review by Sarah Nguyen, MD

Educational content; not medical advice. Prices are typical estimates and may exclude insurance benefits; confirm with a licensed clinician and your insurer.

Medtronic Intellis is a rechargeable spinal cord stimulator used for chronic neuropathic pain such as failed back surgery syndrome, radiculopathy, and complex regional pain. It’s a system, not a single line item, so the price spans the trial, the implant, the device hardware, the facility, and post-op programming, and what you actually pay depends on insurance rules like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Bills vary widely. Learn more about the therapy on Medtronic’s SCS overview.

If you came here for a fast sense check, here it is. In the United States, typical billed charges for an SCS trial run $5,800–$15,700, while a permanent rechargeable implant often shows $27,800–$76,400 in national price data, with non-rechargeable systems averaging less. Your out-of-pocket can be far lower than headline totals if the case is in-network and you’ve met your plan deductible, and Medicare cost sharing looks different again. We’ll anchor those numbers to real sources and show ways to pay less using national price trackers.

Article Insights

• A typical U.S. SCS trial bills $5,800–$15,700 and a permanent rechargeable implant bills $27,800–$76,400.
• Medicare average patient shares often land near $1,070–$1,384 for a trial and $1,799–$3,762 for a permanent stage, according to Medical News Today.
• Public ASC price lists show component cash prices like $5,000 per lead and $24,000 for generator insertion, with device invoices passed through; see the posted schedule from Neurosurgery One.
• Rechargeable Intellis emphasizes ~95% capacity retention at nine years, a long-run economic advantage if therapy works for you.
• Prior authorization quality and in-network choices are the biggest levers to lower what you pay.

How Much Does Medtronic Intellis Cost?

Medtronic Intellis costs start from about $5,800 for trials up to $76,400 for permanent implants.

Start with two anchors. First, national commercial price trackers show median ranges across U.S. markets for common SCS steps, including $5,800–$15,700 for a trial and $27,800–$76,400 for a rechargeable implant (the closest apples-to-apples public proxy for Intellis because Intellis is rechargeable). Second, Medicare beneficiaries commonly see average patient portions near $1,070–$1,384 for trial placement and $1,799–$3,762 for a permanent procedure, amounts that reflect federal cost-sharing formulas in different outpatient settings.

Device features also shape what facilities pay. Intellis highlights SureScan MRI conditional access and an Overdrive battery that retains about 95% capacity at nine years—a longevity profile that can justify a higher upfront device invoice compared with non-rechargeable systems that face earlier generator replacement. Think of it as a smartphone-for-your-spine—with a charging routine to match.

This price typically includes the implantable neurostimulator device itself, the surgical implantation procedure, and initial programming. The Intellis system features AdaptiveStim (auto-adjusts stimulation by activity/positioning) and broad MRI compatibility via SureScan; see this cost analysis overview and a competitor’s perspective on SCS pricing.

Medtronic’s latest materials add details on programming and battery life: Intellis Pro and patient-friendly product info.

Insurance coverage for the Medtronic Intellis device varies, but many major insurers, including Medicare, cover most or all costs when medically justified. Patients may have out-of-pocket expenses including copayments or deductibles. Follow-up visits for device programming adjustments, battery monitoring, and possible replacement should also be considered as part of ongoing cost (see an NCBI SCS outcomes study and FDA approval news for context).

Real-Life Cost Examples

Example A, PPO with high deductible, outpatient ASC. A Texas ambulatory spine program publicly lists a bundled cash price of $63,000 for a paddle-lead implant via laminectomy and $3,325 for a trial, illustrating how a high-deductible member who hasn’t met the deductible can face near-cash liability until plan terms kick in. Many PPOs still negotiate below list, but the list tells you the ceiling. Pro tip: ask for an itemized quote. (Texas Legislature transparency filing)

Also read our articles about the cost of the Orthofix bone stimulator, spinal cord stimulators in general, or nerve conduction tests.

Example B, Medicare primary with Medigap. Recent reporting shows average Medicare patient portions around $1,070 at ASCs and $1,384 at hospital outpatient departments for a trial, and $3,762 at ASCs and $1,799 at hospital outpatient for the permanent stage, with the plan and supplement filling the rest. Medigap can reduce or eliminate those shares depending on the letter plan.

Example C, HMO in-network only. HMOs limit members to contracted surgeons and facilities and require prior authorization after a successful trial. One 2025 policy frames SCS as covered for chronic intractable pain when criteria are met, which keeps member costs predictable at fixed copays or coinsurance rather than open-ended bills.

Example D, self-pay bundle. In Colorado, a neurosurgical ASC posts cash prices for the main CPT components that build an SCS case, such as $5,000 per percutaneous lead (CPT 63650), $15,500 for paddle-lead placement (63655), and $24,000 for pulse generator insertion/replacement (63685), with L-code device components billed at cost plus 10%, the pass-through device invoice is the swing factor.

Cost Breakdown

Professional fees. Surgeon, anesthesiologist, and pain specialist fees bill separately from the facility. Medicare references and commercial schedules assign RVUs by code, and multiple-procedure rules can reduce secondary line items on the same day; your EOB will show these as professional charges (example payer coding guide: Saluda reimbursement guide).

Facility fees. Hospital outpatient departments and ASCs are paid under bundled frameworks for SCS. National hospital outpatient references list amounts like $6,523 for percutaneous lead placement (63650), $20,865 for paddle lead placement (63655), and $29,617 for generator insertion/replacement (63685) before geographic adjustments (see an industry coding summary from Abbott).

Device components. The implantable pulse generator, leads, extensions, charger, and controller are billed as prosthetic/supply items in different ways by payer. Some ASCs publicly disclose pass-through pricing at vendor cost plus a small markup; one reason similar cases can differ by thousands based on distributor invoices.

Post-op and programming. Wound checks and programmer sessions occur over weeks and months, and many plans cover a fixed number of reprogramming visits annually. Medtronic’s patient FAQs note that insurers usually require prior authorization and that coverage varies.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Lead strategy. Percutaneous versus paddle leads bill differently; complex anatomies may nudge surgeons toward a paddle lead via laminectomy (costlier that day, sometimes fewer migrations later). Coding differences mirror the clinical decision (see the coding framework).

Site of service. An ASC typically posts lower sticker prices than a hospital outpatient department; some centers publish transparent bundles that include anesthesia and implants (e.g., ASC bundle examples). Geography also shifts totals via wage index adjustments. CMS local coverage articles define documentation and frequency expectations (e.g., Medicare coverage article).

Alternative Products or Services

Within Medtronic, Vanta offers a non-rechargeable path while Intellis/Inceptiv cover rechargeable options with MRI access and advanced programming; competitors include Abbott Proclaim, Boston Scientific WaveWriter, and Nevro Senza HF10. Feature trade-offs (battery strategy, programming modes, MRI access) influence invoices (see Intellis platform (EU)).

Outside the United States, list economics look different. NICE reported device package costs such as £17,422 for rechargeable and £11,281 for non-rechargeable systems (device only; hospital/surgeon fees separate), still a helpful “ballpark”.

Ways to Spend Less

Stay in-network for both surgeon and facility, and confirm that both the trial and implant are authorized; a clean prior-auth packet that mirrors payer language prevents denials that later become balance bills. Some centers go beyond chargemasters and disclose bundled cash prices; use those for leverage (transparent bundles explained).

Shop by market, not just doctor. The same CPT combo can be tens of thousands apart across cities. One example shows a rechargeable implant median near $35,769 in Oklahoma City, with trials ranging from the mid-$5,000s upward (city-level medians).

Expert Insights & Tips

Clinicians and payers converge on one rule: prove the trial worked before implanting permanently. Insurers require documentation of pain relief and function gains after the temporary lead trial; keep a pain diary with quantified improvement and activity notes to speed approval and avoid costly rescheduling (see payer policy roundups from Boston Scientific).

Ask about battery longevity and MRI access up front. Nine-year capacity retention near 95% and full-body MRI conditional access (under specific conditions) can reduce replacement procedures and imaging work-arounds later.

Total Cost of Ownership

Think in five- to ten-year horizons. Rechargeable systems such as Intellis are designed for longer service life; while the initial implant can cost more, fewer generator exchanges may lower cumulative spend if therapy remains effective. As a comparator, Australian insurer analyses peg early-course SCS spend around $55,000 (USD equivalent) over the first years (InSight+ explainer).

The other axis is time cost: recharging takes time, clinic visits take time, and revisions/reprogramming add indirect costs that never appear on an EOB. One U.S. life-care planning analysis even projected very high multi-decade totals when all maintenance and potential replacements were stacked (long-term planning notes).

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Expect separate bills for pre-op imaging, psychological evaluation, labs, and surgical clearances. Replacement chargers/controllers and any out-of-network lab work can add smaller but annoying charges. Denied or delayed claims create carrying costs; if authorization language doesn’t match policy wording, claims can pend/deny/appeal, generating temporary patient responsibility and late fees until reprocessed. Clear documentation cuts that risk.

Warranty, Support & Insurance

Hardware warranties cover device defects, not surgical issues or routine wear, so generator replacement for normal battery depletion typically follows payer coverage rules. Medtronic patient services can help navigate support. For future procedures, vendor/payer coding guides outline two-code approaches for generator replacements and how removals/insertions are billed (e.g., Abbott 2025 coding guide).

Financing & Payment Options

Hospital and ASC payment plans often offer 3–12 months interest-free on the patient portion; third-party medical financing adds convenience at a cost. HSAs/FSAs can be timed to larger steps like the permanent implant, and some centers take a deposit to lock in an ASC slot while authorization is pending. Always get “bundles” in writing.

Complication & Revision Costs

The most expensive SCS is the one that needs repeat surgery. Lead migration, infection, or poor early programming can drive revisions/removals within three years, creating new facility and professional charges. Early follow-up reduces that risk (recent PubMed review). Many payers allow repairs/revisions of an existing system without the same prior-auth hurdles as a new implant, which can shorten timelines and contain costs (policy example).

Insurance, Coding & Authorization

Know the core codes. Trials use percutaneous lead codes; permanent systems add generator insertion; paddle leads have their own surgical code. Hospital outpatient billing often rolls these into comprehensive payments that mask device cost on your EOB. Coverage flows from long-standing Medicare determinations mirrored by major commercial policies: documented conservative therapy failure, a successful trial, and diagnosis alignment are must-haves. Translation: tight paperwork = lower surprises.

Opportunity Cost & ROI

The ROI case for Intellis is about pain control, mobility, and reducing ER visits/opioids, not just the invoice on surgery day. If a rechargeable system avoids one generator exchange and helps you return to work weeks earlier after programming stabilizes, the five-year math can favor the higher initial cost.

One-Page Cost Snapshot

Sources reflect national U.S. medians and Medicare averages for 2024–2025, plus UK NICE and Australian insurer research.

Answers to Common Questions

What exactly is included when someone quotes an “Intellis cost” number?

Usually the facility, anesthesia, surgeon fee, device hardware, and the first programming visit. Trials and permanent implants are billed separately, and some centers exclude the device invoice from posted totals. Ask for a line-item estimate with CPT codes.

How much more do rechargeable systems run compared with non-rechargeable systems?

National commercial data show higher day-one medians for rechargeable implants; the gap narrows if fewer generator exchanges are needed later, one reason battery longevity matters.

If I have already met my deductible this year, what could I still owe?

Coinsurance or copays, plus any non-covered extras (out-of-network labs, extra programming visits). Medicare averages above are a good ballpark for typical shares.

Are programming visits billed separately after surgery?

Often, yes; under follow-up or device-specific programming codes, with some plans capping annual visits.

Is there any difference in MRI access between systems?

Yes. Intellis promotes SureScan MRI conditional access for full-body imaging under stated conditions, always check your exact model and MRI conditions.