 | With Health Insurance: $10-$50 Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurance |
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 | Without Health Insurance: $200-$650+ |
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| An abdominal ultrasound is used to view organs such as the gallbladder, kidneys and liver. It can be used to investigate abdominal pain or swelling and to diagnose gallstones, kidney stones or cancer. | | |
| Typical costs: | - An abdominal ultrasound typically is covered by health insurance when ordered by a doctor for diagnosis of a problem. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a copay of $10 -$50 or more, or coinsurance of 10-50% or more.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, an abdominal ultrasound typically costs $200 -$650 or more, depending on the provider and geographic region, with an national average cost of $390, according to NewChoiceHealth.com. For example, Future Diagnostics Group in Illinois charges $200 for an ultrasound of just the abdominal aorta. Concierge Medicine in California charges $275 for an abdominal ultrasound. Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Nebraska, charges $498 for a limited abdominal ultrasound (a single organ or quadrant) and $654 for a complete abdominal ultrasound.
What should be included: | - The technologist has the patient lie down, applies a clear gel, then moves a hand-held device called a transducer over the abdomen. The transducer emits sound waves to create a picture of the abdominal organs, such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys, on a screen. The procedure typically takes a half hour to an hour, and a radiologist later interprets the results.
- An abdominal ultrasound can be used to look for the cause of abdominal pain, evaluate masses in any of the abdominal organs, diagnose kidney stones or liver or gallbladder disease, and evaluate injuries after an accident.
- WebMD offers an overview of abdominal ultrasound.
Additional costs: | - Depending on the results of the ultrasound, the doctor might order additional imaging or testing such as a CT scan or MRI.
Discounts: | - Some clinics offer ultrasound services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator for clinics that provide discounts on an income-based sliding scale.
- Many hospitals and imaging centers give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System in California offers a 35% discount. And Raleigh Radiology in North Carolina offers a 40% discount for payment made in full at the time of service.
Shopping for an abdominal ultrasound: | - A family doctor or specialist can make a referral to a hospital or imaging center. Or, the American College of Radiology offers a locator by zip code for facilities that are ACR-accredited in ultrasound procedures.
- The hospital or imaging center typically will have a radiologist to interpret X-rays. The radiologist should be board-certified by the American Board of Radiology.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Article updated June 2011 |
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