 | With Health Insurance: $30-$100 Copay |
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 | Without Health Insurance: $500-$3,000 |
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| An electrocardiogram, also known an EKG or ECG, is a test that examines heart conditions by measuring the heart's electrical levels. Electrodes are placed at several points on the body to transmit electrical impulses which create line patterns on paper. A technician typically performs the test and a doctor or specialist interprets the wave chart created by the test. The test is painless and generally takes less than 15 minutes to complete. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Typically, there are two costs associated with an EKG -- the cost of the procedure itself and the cost of the analysis of the readout.
- Patients with medical insurance that covers a portion of the cost of the EKG, can expect to pay $30 -$100 in copays for both the test and the analysis of the test. For example, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which serves patients in Massachusetts, charges its members $32 -$54 for an EKG and interpreting the results.
- Uninsured patients can expect to pay $500 -$3,000 total for an EKG. An EKG averages $1,500, according to NewChoiceHealth.com, but some locations charge as high as $2,850. Typically, prices are higher for services in metropolitan areas, than in smaller rural communities.
What should be included: | - Typically, patients undergoing an electrocardiogram lie flat on a table with electrodes attached to points on the chest, arms and legs. Sometimes a paste or a gel will be used to attach the electrodes and improve the conduction of the electrical impulses. The electrodes are attached to an EKG machine which tracks the electrical activity and traces it on paper.
- WebMD explains in detail how the EKG procedure is performed.
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute provides information on what to expect before, during and after an EKG is performed.
Discounts: | - Health insurance may cover some or all of the cost of the EKG. Generally, insurance will cover 80%-100% of EKG testing. Contact an insurance provider for coverage specifics.
- Some school athletic programs give student athletes EKGs to test heart health. The Cypress Project, which works to reduce the cost of EKGs for student athletes, tracks several high schools in Texas with EKG machines. The schools charge student about $3 for the electrocardiograms.
- Some physicians and hospitals offer discounts of up to 35% to patients who do not have health insurance. Washington Hospital Healthcare System, located in California, offers a 35% discount for uninsured patients. The hospital also has a financial assistance program for qualifying uninsured patients.
Shopping for an ekg: | |
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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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