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 |  | With Insurance: Copays and/or Coinsurance |  | Without Insurance: $150-$10,000 or more Depending on the Type |
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A biopsy is removal of a small amount of tissue so it can be examined in a laboratory to check for disease.
Typical costs: | - For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a skin biopsy ranges from $150 to $1,000. A needle biopsy performed in a doctor's office would be at the lower end of the range, while a surgical biopsy would be at the higher end of the range.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a breast biopsy ranges from $1,000 to $5,000. A needle biopsy performed in a doctor's office would be at the lower end of the range, while a surgical biopsy performed in a hospital would be at the higher end.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a liver biopsy ranges from $2,000 to $7,000 or more.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a kidney biopsy ranges from $3,000 to $10,000.
- A biopsy would be considered medically necessary when ordered by a doctor and would almost always be covered by health insurance.
- For patients covered by health insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would include either a copay or coinsurance, usually ranging from 10 to 40 percent of the total cost.
Related articles: Colonoscopy, Mammogram, Virtual Colonoscopy
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What should be included: | - There are several types of biopsies, according to the National Institutes of Health[1] . In a needle, or percutaneous, biopsy, the doctor uses a needle and syringe, sometimes guided by a CT scan, to remove a piece of tissue in the area of concern. In an open biopsy, with the patient under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision and removes a piece of tissue. In a closed biopsy, the surgeon makes a much smaller cut than in an open biopsy, and uses a tiny camera as a guide. Then, the sample is analyzed in a laboratory and the results are reported back to the physician.
- The National Institutes of Health offers descriptions of a bone marrow biopsy[2] , rectal biopsy[3] , lung biopsy[4] , liver biopsy[5] , skin lesion biopsy[6] , breast biopsy[7] and a kidney biopsy[8] .
Additional costs: | - Using imaging technology such as ultrasound to guide a biopsy can add to the cost.
Discounts: | - Some hospitals offer a discount of 10 percent or more to uninsured patients or patients who make an arrangement to pay ahead of time.
Shopping for a biopsy: | - A primary care physician can make a referral to a radiologist, a surgeon or another specialist for a biopsy, depending on the body part and type of biopsy needed.
- For example, a bone marrow biopsy often is performed by a hematologist; a skin biopsy by a dermatologist; a kidney biopsy by a urologist; a lung biopsy by a pulmonologist; a breast biopsy by a gynecologist; and a GI tract or liver biopsy by a gastroenterologist.
- After the biopsy, the tissue usually should be evaluated by a board-certified pathologist for diagnosis.
- Any specialist involved should be certified by a board that is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties[9] .
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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 |
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| Posted by: Broke in NC in Wake Forest, NC. | Posted: July 6th, 2023 02:07PM |
paid about $130 to my skin doctor (that I did choose) and another $470 bill to the pathologist (that I did NOT choose) and this is with "good" insurance. Healthcare in the US is awful. |
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| Posted by: Sln in Carmel, IN. | Posted: June 12th, 2023 03:06PM |
ENT said nodule found on thyroid during CT scan. Said need biopsy. Went to pathology office, technician used ultra sound to find module. After 5 minutes said she could find anything to biopsy. 2 weeks later get bill for $350 for Ultra sound and $500 for office visit. Ridiculous!! I am appealing charges but have no confidence it will be successful. |
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| Posted by: MEHays in Shreveport, LA. | Posted: April 20th, 2023 02:04AM |
| Medical Center: Willis Knighting Shreveport | Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield |
If having cancer isn't enough to contend with, we have to deal with medical price gouging. |
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| Posted by: Pdmseb in Seattle, WA. | Posted: January 28th, 2022 09:01PM |
| Medical Center: Seattle Childrens | Insurance: First choice |
My 12 year old daughter had biopsied a mole that tripled in size and was bleeding. |
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| Posted by: Kevin Schultz in Cumming, GA. | Posted: October 2nd, 2021 06:10AM |
| Medical Center: n forsyth hospital | Insurance: medicare |
This was the bill for a 30 minute procedure that was done by a nurse not an MD. to read the biopsy the charge (in the bill ) was 12,600.
this is crazy!
I am a Veterinarian and I would have charged -MAX 3000.00 total to the pet parent. |
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| Posted by: S.O. in Mansfield TX, TX. | Posted: July 20th, 2021 08:07AM |
| Medical Center: SAGIS Pathology | Insurance: BC/BS |
Got skin pathology at doctor office, the doctor cut a small piece of skin and sent to SAGIS. Sagis billed $1,737 for a tiny skin biopsy taken in a dr office. They lowered the bill by $746.81 for "insurance adjustments". The insurance paid $171.46. I'm responsible for $819.73, and that is after insurance. The doctor office cost about another $100. |
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| Posted by: RLH in Sebring, FL. | Posted: March 23rd, 2021 10:03AM |
| Medical Center: Highlands Regional hospital outpatient | Insurance: Cigna |
Had an outpatient breast needle biopsy which took less than 1 hour. Calcifications found. They billed my insurance over $17,000 and with my deductible and coinsurance I owe $4,479, even with a 10% discount. Ridiculous. Not sure how they get away with such scams! |
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| Posted by: robert stone in bryn mawr, PA. | Posted: May 28th, 2019 02:05PM |
| Medical Center: Penn Medicine | Insurance: BC |
my wife had a mammogram, was called back and told she had dense tissue and required a needle breast biopsy.Everyone I spoke with recommended she have it done. I made the mistake of going to a Tier 3 provider instead of a Tier One and my co-pay is $1,250 plus my wife has a $6,000 deductible, so we're on the hook for $3,600. I agree with others on here. This shouldn't be considered surgery but preventative care. Her biopsy was negative, no cancer but they still wanted to operate. This time I picked a Tier One provider and my co pay was only $250.- from a $23,000 bill! Medicine should not be for profit! You shouldn't have to "shop" around for the lowest cost when it comes to your health! This is disgusting! |
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| Posted by: Susan63 in Dallas, TX. | Posted: April 16th, 2019 01:04PM |
| Medical Center: TEXAS Health Breast Imaging Dallas | Insurance: United Healthcare Group EPO |
I have high deductible insurance (6k) so this is all out of pocket. At least the negotiated rate is $4100 when the full rate is $7000. I think I will incremental bills from the radiologists.... |
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| Posted by: Annoyed and broke in Grafton, WI. | Posted: March 13th, 2019 06:03PM |
| Medical Center: Aurora grafton | Insurance: United |
Had a regular mammogram, got called back for a 3D mammogram and ultrasound, they couldn’t be sure what it was so did the biopsy. It was done using a ultrasound and took about 40 minutes. Was shocked to get a bill for $9000, I owe about $2400, so relieved it was benign, but cost seems excessive for a really common test. |
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| Posted by: Billsbillsbills in West Bend, WI. | Posted: November 14th, 2018 10:11AM |
| Medical Center: Froedtert and the Medical College of Wis | Insurance: United Healthcare |
Went to the ob/gyn for my yearly exam. Told her the persistent heavy bleeding and debilitating pain. Was told I might have endometrial cancer and a biopsy was required. While doing the normal pap smear procedure, the biopsy was done. Less than a 2 minute procedure start to finish. Total billed to my insurance was in the ballpark of $13k. I'm stuck with a bill just under $3k versus relatively $0 because it was deemed not a necessary test.
My apologies to United Healthcare. I didn't know the threat of cancer wasn't animportant test.
Turns out it wasn't cancer, just hormonal imbalance :[ |
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| Posted by: Much wiser now in Central VA in Esmont, VA. | Posted: May 5th, 2018 02:05AM |
| Medical Center: VA Breast Center | Insurance: Optima Health |
After receiving a bill for $2,800 I requested an itemized bill and discovered that I had been billed twice for two of the items! They billed for a bilateral biopsy when I only had it done in one breast. After the bill was refigured my part was $705. I believe that centers double bill on purpose, hoping that you'll pay - in other words they throw it against the wall to see what sticks. They need to be investigated. Never pay before seeing an itemized bill! |
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| Posted by: a user in Winfield, IL. | Posted: March 20th, 2018 09:03AM |
| Medical Center: Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hos | Insurance: Aetna |
What they did is that they took a sample with a needle using ultrasound. That's it. It's not surgery or anything like that. The procedure took about 20 minutes. Insurance covered about 75% and now I have to pay $2200. Nobody checks or controls these con artists! |
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| Posted by: Much wiser now in Central, VA. | Posted: March 13th, 2018 12:03PM |
| Medical Center: Central Virginia | Insurance: Optima Health |
2018: Microcalcifications were found on mammogram. Breast center courted me like the devil with calls and letters to come in for biopsy, the sooner the better, etc. Doctor and staff were professional, but after getting the bill ($6,100 for less than an hour procedure) my part would be $2,800. I haven't paid yet, I'm going to call them to fight at least some of it. I'm glad it was benign, but what gets me is after the procedure, no followup at all from the office, they didn't even call me with the result, I ended up calling them a week after the biopsy. Truthfully, I feel used. These centers use scare tactics to get women in, but don't get back to you except to send you a whopping bill! Very lucrative business for them! |
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| Posted by: Arthur T. in Portland, OR. | Posted: February 15th, 2018 03:02PM |
| Medical Center: Legacy Health Systems | Insurance: Regence |
For an outpatient Breast Needle biopsy that took 1 hour in and out. Legacy billed $5,201.41 - Regence discounted it to $3,178.90 - I called Legacy and asked for further discount because we have high deductible. They took 10% off. Final cost I paid was $2,861.00. We received good service but I think that is still very overpriced. |
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| Posted by: Screwed by the Medical System in Tulsa, OK. | Posted: January 3rd, 2018 09:01AM |
| Medical Center: Hillcrest and Chapman | Insurance: Yes |
I was in shock. I went to the Chapman center and they did the Biopsy there, but Hillcrest billed the insurance company total cost so far 16,000. insurance covered some I had to pick up 6000. so far. I felt they should have told me they were billing under a different name. Hillcrest is not a part of my network.... Will not go back.... |
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| Posted by: Fcindyf in Torrance, CA. | Posted: March 2nd, 2017 09:03PM |
| Medical Center: Horizon dermatology | Insurance: Medical |
I have medical and they said they accept medical but not fully, it only deducts from the cost. They did a simple 5 minute biopsy in the office, afterwards the PA who did the biopsy, told me it would cost extra. I paid $208 at the office. She did not tell me that the lab would bill me! I just got the lab bill and it is $284!!!!! I'm so angry I wasn't told it would cost extra!!!! |
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| Posted by: a user in Toledo, OH. | Posted: October 13th, 2016 01:10PM |
| Medical Center: Toledo Hospital Brest Center | Insurance: Medical Mutual |
This was a procedure less than 1 hour.
Lab $ 274.00
Procedure $5123.00
Radiology $ 369.00
Supplies $ 356.00
Insurance adjusted $3014.42 for a balance due of $3107.58
I don't know if there are any additional charges as this is the first bill I received for this procedure. |
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| Posted by: Debbie D in Lake success, NY. | Posted: October 1st, 2016 07:10AM |
| Medical Center: Northwell advanced radiology | Insurance: Aetna |
I had a needle aspiration of cysts, 1 in each breast. It was a 30 minute procedure where they radiologist inserted a needle with ultrasound guidance in each cyst and sucked out fluid. 2 needles, 2 bandaids. The cost they billed for the procedure including doctors and labs was approx $13,000. Aetna billed as outpatient surgery and I have 30% coinsuramce with $1000 deductible/$4000 out of pocket. I have to pay $1500 - for 2 needle pocks and 2 bandaids. this is criminal. Oh, all was benign. Plus the Mammo that started this all was billed as diagnostic (even though it was my annual) so I'm being charged another $450 for that when it should be $0. |
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| Posted by: a user in San Francisco, CA. | Posted: June 18th, 2016 08:06PM |
| Medical Center: UCSF FNA Clinic | Insurance: United Healthcare Choice Plus PPO |
Lab Path was $1503, Treatment/Observation was $1388, then the insurance payment was $1359 with a separate insurance adjustment of $1381, assuming that's UCSF not bothering with the negotiated UnitedHealthcare reimbursement. 10% coinsurance meant I was around $151 |
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| Posted by: VAH in Portland, OR. | Posted: May 9th, 2016 02:05PM |
| Medical Center: Safeway Breast Foundation Portland | Insurance: Providence Health Plan |
So my cost is actually more than that b/c I had not yet met my deductible. The procedure itself is likely $5000 according to the business office for my radiologist, though they have not yet filed the claim. My insurance pays 80% after I meet my deductible. Procedure took about 1 hour, and results came back benign. I will say that the care I received was excellent. I just find the cost a little surprising. |
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| Posted by: william russell in westminster, CA. | Posted: April 15th, 2016 09:04PM |
| Medical Center: fountain valley hosp | Insurance: medicare] |
Dr. bill for exam/freeze off some pre cancer bumps
and surgery for mole growing on lower eye lid was
under 500.00-excellent the biopsy costs seems
impossible.Seems that these costs vary greatly and
are for most part way overpriced. I will be in china
next few weeks maybe we should look at this work going off shore...when their I will compare costs |
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| Posted by: McFadden in Clearlake Oaks, CA. | Posted: March 14th, 2016 05:03PM |
| Medical Center: Ukiah Valley | Insurance: Anthem Blue Cross |
I was told I had 3 options, watchful waiting (not recommended), a needle biopsy, or a full surgical biopsy, which the surgeon recommended because I had a prior biopsy with a-typical ductal cells...
So they said the procedure is $11k and I would have to pay $5000... or they could do a "self pay" and I will only pay $2,336. So now I am considering to not get it done... Research shows that 25% of biopsies come back positive... so I think I will wait. I can't change my insurance until next Sept. |
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| Posted by: workingclassfool in Miami, FL. | Posted: October 18th, 2015 08:10PM |
| Medical Center: uhealth | Insurance: cigna |
Total time spent: 40 minutes.Biopsy results:not enough cells for the doctor to render a diagnosis Amount charged definitelyexorbitant,due to the fact that it is a "hospital based facility".Considering you can buy a car for the price of a non-surgical exam with failed results,(we still donot know if it`s malignant)you can see the absurd injustice of our medical billing system. |
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| Posted by: N Page in Philadelphia, PA. | Posted: May 26th, 2015 07:05PM |
| Medical Center: Women's Health | Insurance: multi limited plan Standard Life |
I was told the doctor is paid 100% anesthesia 20% and the facility $75.00. This is what my insurance covers. The Facility use and equipment, my cost,
$4500 for about 30 mins. No lumps, two mammograms with "something" seen in both by radiologist, but on third visit with actual doctor and a second ultra sound, nothing seen..but the doctor now sees something else, close to the surface, but stymied. No lumps, discoloring,raised marked, no history in family of breast cancer.
So just to be sure it is nothing, need this biopsy. Glad I called my insurance carrier. I cannot imagine a facility, not an operating room, charging this cost and that is a lower cost of what they would accept from the insurance company if it were covered. Cancelled my appointment and getting a second opinion on the films and ultra sound. No feeling very confident in who saw what! |
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| Posted by: Dean M in Murry Ut, UT. | Posted: May 16th, 2015 08:05AM |
| Medical Center: Intermount Medical Ctr | Insurance: Blue Cross |
Original cost billed to insurance was $25,000.00. Did NOT include Dr. Fee ($380), or Pathologist Fees. Total time from out-patient check in to check out was less that 3 hrs. With the high insurance premiums and inflated medical costs I'm not sure either one is looking out for our interests. |
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| Posted by: John Hughes in Falls Church, VA. | Posted: April 23rd, 2015 01:04PM |
| Medical Center: VA maxioffical | Insurance: bluecross/bluesheild |
BBC says the most they pay out for this procedure is $202.
Has anyone had this procedure done for such a low amount? |
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| Posted by: Blind Sided in OKC, OK. | Posted: April 17th, 2015 10:04AM |
| Medical Center: Integris Breast Center | Insurance: United Health Care |
I also was encouraged to do a "let's be sure but probably nothing" follow with biopsy done in an office setting in OKC March 2015. Office personnel acted as if this was just a run of the mill procedure & did not have me sign any special paperwork or discuss costs. Live and Learn!! After receiving their bill & the radiologists bill, total cost is nearly $10,000. My portion after insurance will be almost $3000.00 Ask questions!! See what cost is without insurance, it may be cheaper! |
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| Posted by: JLY in walnut Creek, CA. | Posted: April 7th, 2015 09:04AM |
| Medical Center: John Muir Hospital Walnut Creek, CA | Insurance: Blue Shield |
I have not had the procedure yet but I am told it will be approximately the price above. I have a 20% co-insurance which would be $2560.00. The hospital is coding the procedure as a "surgery" hence the 20% co-insurance, for a one hour, outpatient needle biopsy. This is outragious. It should be classified as preventative with a copay so those who can not afford 20% of an outragious price can at least have it done. |
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External Resources: | - www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003416.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003934.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003891.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003860.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003895.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003840.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003920.htm
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003907.htm
- www.certificationmatters.org/about-board-certified-doctors/whats-so-special-about-...
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