SE Dallas 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 on 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. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free said getting a balloon sinuplasty procedure to treat sinus issues can provide permanent changes.

"When you intervene in a patient's nose with balloon sinuplasty, or maybe you're doing some terminal reduction, you can also offer permanent changes to the way those sinuses drain and the way the patient breathes," Dr. Trimble told SE Dallas News. "I think it's exciting to be able to offer this level of treatment with decreased recoveries in an office setting that just makes it more convenient for that patient."

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation, is a procedure 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 procedure by all insurance providers.

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, according to GoodRX.

According to the Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Center's website, Dr. Monty Trimble holds board certification in otolaryngology. He achieved his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Texas A&M University and his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. His residency training in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) was completed at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics.