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 |  | With Health Insurance: $10-$50 Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | 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[1] . For example, Future Diagnostics Group[2] in Illinois charges $200 for an ultrasound of just the abdominal aorta. Concierge Medicine[3] in California charges $275 for an abdominal ultrasound. Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[4] in Nebraska, charges $498 for a limited abdominal ultrasound (a single organ or quadrant) and $654 for a complete abdominal ultrasound.
Related articles: Kidney Stone Treatment, 3-D and 4-D Ultrasounds, Ultrasound
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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[5] .
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[6] 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[7] 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[8] 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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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Kim Durell in Mesa, AZ. | Posted: August 6th, 2023 03:08PM |
| Medical Center: Dignity Health in Mesa ARIZONA | Practitioner: It's an URGENT CARE THAT CALLS ITSELF A |
I had a Gall Bladder attack went to a Glorified Urgent Care that calls itself an Emergency Room Hospital. I wasn there in there less than two hours and was billed over $6,118.00 for a ultrasound and a pain pill. A total RIP OFF, A license to over Charge and take advantage of people. SAD |
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| Posted by: Lower cost center in Durham, NC. | Posted: August 2nd, 2022 10:08AM |
| Medical Center: Durham Diagnostic imaging | Practitioner: |
This was my out of pocket expense. Ultrasound was a little over 1000. I'm on the 80/20 state health plan. Came here for a cheaper option. I was told hospital Ultrasound would be a little over 700 out of pocket. |
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| Posted by: Sunrise in Omaha, NE. | Posted: December 13th, 2021 06:12PM |
| Medical Center: Nebraska Medicine | Practitioner: |
I was ordered US Abdomen Complete only but what they charged me besides the US Abdomen complete, they also charged me US Duplex which the doctor never ordered and they list it as other diagnostic services all together was over $2100. I had call their billing department and they told me to call my provider but I told them the provider is busy treating people and I can see on my patient portal that the only thing they have ordered was US abdomen Complete but they insisted that I should to call me provider. Late I contacted both my provider and ultrasound department both of them told me that US Abdomen complete is the only thing my provider ordered for me. But the billing department did not want to correct the potential fraud charge……. |
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| Posted by: IsThisHealthcare in Grand Prairie, WI. | Posted: December 2nd, 2021 08:12AM |
| Medical Center: Aurora Medical | Practitioner: Matchke |
Dr. Recommended a testicular ultrasound out of curiosity for male fertility testing. 15 minutes. Before insurance, cost was $4,720. |
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| Posted by: Disgruntled employee/patient in Garden City, MI. | Posted: April 26th, 2020 03:04PM |
| Medical Center: Garden City Hospital | Practitioner: Ultrasound Tech |
My original bill for abdominal ultrasound was $2952.00 and then the pelvic ultrasound was $867.00. Together: $3819.00. My hospital provides my insurance and it only brought it down to $1145.70. As a Contingent employee I might bring home $750 per month after paying my insurance premiums of ~$300 monthly. With costs like this I just want to curl up in a little ball and hide from the world. And no definite Dx as of yet because Covid19 took over 3 days later so my primary doctor hasn’t even called me. Had the scans on March 15th. |
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| Posted by: Completely Outraged in Alpine, TX. | Posted: March 17th, 2020 10:03AM |
| Medical Center: Big Bend Regional Medical Center | Practitioner: |
For one organ, the national average should only be in the $300-$600 range for uninsured patients. I am insured (barely, through TRS, but that's another can of complaints), and the total cost would have been $1,407. Insurance barely covered anything. I can't believe they charge that much. There is no shopping around in my area because that's the closest thing to a hospital we have within 200 miles, and I'm a busy teacher. I was worried that I was experiencing appendicitis, but thankfully it was just a ruptured ovarian cyst that resolved itself. I can't believe they're charging this much in an area where the median household salary is $20k to $40. What they're telling me I owe is half of my monthly paycheck, upon which my whole family of 3 depends. Clearly the message I'm getting from both the medical center and my insurance company is to just stay home and die next time I'm worried about a life-threatening condition. |
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| Posted by: why health insurance sucks in IL in Woodstock, IL. | Posted: November 15th, 2019 06:11AM |
| Medical Center: NWM Woodstock, IL | Practitioner: |
High deductibles thru insurance, ultrasound had to be done and I am paying out of pocket. When scheduling the appointment I was told the actual cost of the procedure is $1,858 and a change but they gave me a "discount" because I have BCBS and they work with BCBS (in other words, they're partnered with BCBS to rob people) |
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| Posted by: Indebtforultrasound in Lincolnton, NC. | Posted: June 18th, 2019 05:06PM |
| Medical Center: Atrium Lincolnton | Practitioner: Dr. Glass |
Went in because doctor wanted to check for premenopausal signs. Never expected to come out of a 10 min external ultrasound with debt. Unbelievable. |
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| Posted by: Gaurav Garg in Edison, NJ. | Posted: April 25th, 2019 08:04AM |
| Medical Center: JFK, NJ | Practitioner: |
JFK charged 2506 for abdomen unsound kidney liver pancreas gall bladder
Insurance paid 1087.59
Insurance adjustment 1134.73
Co Insurance I paid 284 |
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| Posted by: Healthcare sucks in Lawrence, KS. | Posted: March 7th, 2019 05:03AM |
| Medical Center: Lawrence memorial hospital | Practitioner: |
Had some concerning abdominal pain they wanted to check for gallstones, pancreatitis, or spleen damage. Total cost was over $1200. Insurance barely negotiated down any of it. Now I have a bill nearly the equivalent of a mortgage payment. This is absurd. |
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| Posted by: Jane Thompson in Omaha, NE. | Posted: October 19th, 2018 12:10PM |
| Medical Center: Nebraska Medicine | Practitioner: |
Nebraska Medicine charges well above the national average of $390 for this test |
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| Posted by: labmom in Ogden, UT. | Posted: October 8th, 2018 02:10PM |
| Medical Center: Ogden Regional | Practitioner: |
I had kidney stones and was referred by the practitioner for an ultrasound at Ogden Regional Hospital to make sure it was Kidney Stones and not gallstones. I have average insurance with a 1500 deductible. I was on the table for no more than a half hour. My insurance was billed 1800 dollars and my portion is nearly 900.00 This is absolutely ridiculous. My husbands MRI cost less than this. |
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| Posted by: Clueless of Cost in Nicholasville, KY. | Posted: July 11th, 2018 01:07PM |
| Medical Center: St Joseph Jessamine | Practitioner: |
OMG I took the advice of the Lexington Clinic scheduler to go to a closer Ultrasound in my rural community to check for gallstones. I went to the hospital the next morning, fasting. The technologist drove down from Lexington herself, showed up an hour late. Who knew that even with good insurance I'd pay $670 as part of deductible? I would have gladly driven to Lexington myself if I had known how much I'd save! I never even saw a picture result of my gall bladder! Cost of surgery on top! |
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| Posted by: Crazy Cost of Ultrasound in San Antonio Regional Hospital in Fontana, CA. | Posted: May 14th, 2018 09:05AM |
| Medical Center: San Antonio Regional Hospital | Practitioner: |
My Doctor ordered an Abdominal Ultrasound in March 2018. I called a number and scheduled one with San Antonio Regional Hospital. Received two bills: one in later April 2018 from San Antonio Radiological Medical Group with billing code 76700 Charges $159, Patient Balance $42, which looks reasonable. The second one is from San Antonio Regional Hospital in May 2018. No billing code was provided and it just says ULTRASOUND. Total charges was $2,123, Patient Balance $1,104. Therefore, I need to pay $1,156 total for less than 15 minutes ultrasound test.
Be careful with this greedy medical group. Ask the price before you go. |
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| Posted by: Outrageous bill in massillon, OH. | Posted: March 10th, 2017 08:03AM |
| Medical Center: Affinity medical center massillon | Practitioner: |
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| Posted by: Crazy Cost of Ultrasound! in Lansdale, PA. | Posted: February 1st, 2016 09:02AM |
| Medical Center: Lansdale Hospital | Practitioner: |
I was given a script for an ultrasound of my abdomen by my primary physician due to abdominal bloating. I called Lansdale Hospital to schedule and asked cost. They told me it would be $1,793! According to a Google search, the national average should be around $300. So, I called BC/BS, my provider and they could not give me a capitated rate for this hospital. I have a high-deductible medical plan, so this entire amount would be out-of-pocket. This is absolutely incomprehensible to me. I will be researching other facilities that might charge less before committing to this. Crazy nature of healthcare costs and health insurance! Here in the US, I have a good job/salary and top-of-the-line medical coverage - and I have to reconsider having medically necessary tests due to cost. Such a shame! (Date: January 2016) |
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External Resources: |
- www.newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/59/Abdominal%20Ultrasound
- www.futurediagnosticgroup.com/screenings.php
- www.conciergemedicinela.com/price-list-test/
- tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
- www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/abdominal-ultrasound
- findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Accreditation/Accredited-Facility-Search
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