A consumer recently contacted me and asked, “I’m due for a colonoscopy. Any idea what is a good deal on a colonoscopy?” Having no idea what a fair price for a colonoscopy would be, I consulted Outofpocket.com to find out. Using the OutofPocket.com search tool, I typed in the search term “colonoscopy” and here’s what I discovered:
- Colonoscopies in the Chicago area can range from $900-$2600 (source: Leslieslist.org)
- For a colonoscopy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin average prices range from $600-$1200 (source: NewChoiceHealth)
- Colonoscopy in zip code 53202, average price is $1239 ($450 physician service + $373 facility fee + $415 anesthesia). Source HealthCareBlueBook.
- According to CostHelper.com, if you are not covered by health insurance, the cost of colonoscopy varies by provider and geographic region, usually ranging from $2,010 to $3,764, with an average of $3,081, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. A colonoscopy often is covered by health insurance if the patient has symptoms that warrant it or if the patient meets age and risk criteria. According to the 2007 Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card, 21 states have laws mandating colonoscopy coverage. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs can range from zero to more than $1,000, depending on deductibles, co-pay and coinsurance amounts. For example, a Medicare patient at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center would pay $1,477, including deductibles and coinsurance. However, some insurance plans, such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Community Blue PPO plan, cover "wellness" screenings 100 percent, with no deductible or co-pay, usually with some restrictions.
- A colonoscopy typically cost $900-$1100 according to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Massachusetts is (source: www.bluecrossma.com)
- According to MainStreetMedica, colonoscopies cost between $600-$2400 (source: MainStreetMedica)
If you find the information in Outofpocket.com useful, please send me an email at info@outofpocket.com.