North Palm Beach Today

• 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. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free said a balloon sinuplasty procedure is an option that can help improve a patient's quality of life.

"Balloon sinuplasty is targeted for patients with mild to moderate symptoms. It can be used even for patients with severe sinus problems, depending on what it looks like once we evaluate it," Dr. Aull told North Palm Beach Today. "Most people with severe sinus problems have already undergone a maximally aggressive surgery, because those have been around for a while now. We’ll come up with a game plan, fix it, be done with it, and you can have a better quality of life."

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.

Dr. Aull attained his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of Health Sciences/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri, according to West Palm Beach Breathe Free's website. Following that, he finished his residency in Otolaryngology and Surgery, which included an ENT internship, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Missouri. He has also served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy.