US Health Care Costs

Screening colonoscopy, average risk

HCPCS G0121 · Scopes and biopsies · hospital facility charge

At the 113 hospitals whose price files we have read so far, the typical cash price is $1,240, and most charge between $740 and $3,175 (the middle 80%; price files contain errors, so the extremes are left out). Pick a state to compare its hospitals.

Estimate what you would pay

$1,240typical cash price
$2,220typical commercial insurer rate
$3,142typical list price
113hospitals in 30 states so far
Typical cash price by state
AKMEWIVTNHWAID$2.5kMTNDMN$488IL$3.3kMI$1.3kNY$2.9kMA$2.9kORNVWYSDIAIN$2.5kOH$2.1kPA$1.1kNJ$1.2kCT$3.2kRICA$3.5kUT$2.5kCONE$940MO$1.4kKY$3.7kWVVAMDDE$2.7kAZ$928NMKSARTN$735NC$1.2kSC$5.1kDCOK$676LAMSALGA$1.5kHITX$782FL$1.3kPR

Every state

StateHospitalsTypical cash priceLowest cashHighest cashTypical insurer price
Alabama1––––
Arizona2$928$928$928$1,295
California7$3,451$3,451$3,451$2,868
Connecticut1$3,225$3,225$3,225–
Delaware1$2,727$2,727$2,727$4,319
Florida8$1,260$613$2,963$1,508
Georgia6$1,525$1,176$2,845$3,047
Iowa1–––$2,370
Idaho2$2,509$2,509$2,509$2,007
Illinois5$3,285$3,198$3,371$2,710
Indiana2$2,469$2,469$2,469$2,791
Kentucky2$3,661$3,661$3,661$1,772
Massachusetts2$2,897$2,897$2,897$2,444
Michigan3$1,279$1,279$1,279$933
Minnesota1$488$488$488$1,501
Missouri2$1,402$1,402$1,402$1,889
North Carolina4$1,221$1,221$1,221$1,130
Nebraska1$940$940$940$1,966
New Jersey8$1,161$1,009$1,217$3,157
Nevada1–––$2,183
New York1$2,853$2,853$2,853$718
Ohio7$2,110$1,071$2,443$3,158
Oklahoma2$676$676$676$2,057
Pennsylvania7$1,099$1,049$1,963$3,073
South Carolina4$5,126$5,126$5,126$966
Tennessee2$735$735$735$1,668
Texas20$782$246$782$2,162
Utah2$2,513$2,274$2,753$2,601
Virginia6–––$2,940
Washington2–––$2,981
113 hospitals so far: only hospitals whose price files we've read are listed, and more are added every night. The price is the hospital's part; the doctor usually bills separately.

Common questions

How much does screening colonoscopy, average risk cost at a hospital?

At 52 hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for screening colonoscopy, average risk is $1,240, and most charge between $740 and $3,175. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $2,220. These are hospital prices; independent clinics, imaging centers and labs often charge less.

Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for screening colonoscopy, average risk?

At 32 of the 48 hospitals that publish both, the cash price is lower than the typical insurer rate. Remember that with insurance you pay only your share of that rate once your deductible is met, and that cash payments usually don't count toward your deductible.

Does the price include the doctor?

No. These are the hospital's own charges, often called the facility fee. The doctors involved, such as the surgeon, the anesthesiologist or the radiologist who reads a scan, usually send a separate bill.

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