What questions should I ask before anesthesia?
Ask who will provide and oversee your anesthesia, what techniques and risks apply to you, and how pain, nausea, or unexpected complications will be managed. Share your medical and medication history, and ask whether your anesthesia services are covered by your insurance and what costs you may owe.
These ten questions help you understand who is responsible for your anesthesia, the care and medications you may receive, how complications are managed, what recovery involves, and what costs to expect.
Quick Summary
Ten practical questions
- Who is medically responsible for my anesthesia, and who will be with me during the procedure?
- What type of anesthesia is planned, and will I need a breathing tube? Why?
- How do my medical conditions or medicines affect the plan?
- What medications might I receive during the procedure, and what are they for?
- Which of my regular medicines should I take or avoid before the procedure?
- When should I stop eating or drinking?
- How will I be monitored?
- Who can immediately treat an anesthesia emergency?
- What should I expect during recovery and after I go home?
- Is my anesthesia provider in my insurance network, and what costs might I owe?
Why these questions matter
These questions help clarify your anesthesia plan, team responsibilities, medication choices, airway and breathing support, monitoring, emergency readiness, recovery, and expected costs.
Bring your own concerns
Tell the team about your previous anesthesia problems, severe nausea, difficult airway, medication reactions, significant medical conditions, and any family history of anesthesia problems. Share specific concerns or fears so the plan reflects your individual needs.
Insurance and unexpected anesthesia bills
Ask whether your anesthesia clinician and surgical facility are in your insurance network. Balance billing means an out-of-network clinician bills you for the difference between their charge and what your health plan pays. For most private insurance plans, the federal No Surprises Act protects patients against surprise balance bills for Anesthesiology services provided by out-of-network clinicians at in-network hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers. You may still owe normal in-network deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. Ask your insurer about coverage before a planned procedure.
Outside resources
Sources
Reviewed By
- Preliminary review:
- Ritesh Dontula, MS3, Medical Student, Baylor College of Medicine
- Physician reviewer:
- Jenny Pennycuff, MD, MS Verify certification and MOCA status (opens in a new tab)
- Board certification:
- Anesthesiology — American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
- Last reviewed: