Breast Ultrasound Cost

Typical costs:

• A breast ultrasound typically is covered by health insurance when ordered by a doctor for diagnosis of a problem, but many insurance companies do not cover it for routine screening. 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, the cost of a breast ultrasound varies by provider and region with a national average cost of $360, according to NewChoiceHealth.com^[1] . Pueblo Radiology Medical Group Services^[2] , in California, charges $350 for a breast ultrasound. Baptist Memorial Healthcare in Tennessee, charges $252 for a unilateral and $328 for a bilateral breast ultrasound. And Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center^[3] in Nebraska, charges $406 for a unilateral or bilateral breast ultrasound, not including the radiologist fee. A radiologist might charge $100 or more to interpret the images.

• The patient typically undresses from the waist up and puts on a gown. A technologist places a clear gel on the breast and uses a hand-held device called a transducer that emits sound waves to create an image of the breast tissue on a screen. The procedure usually takes about half an hour.
• Later, a radiologist will review the images. The ultrasound can help health care providers learn more about an abnormality on a mammogram and/or determine whether a lump is a fluid-filled cyst, in which case there might be no need for further tests or treatment, or a solid growth, in which case further tests likely will be ordered.
• WebMD Women's Health offers an overview of breast ultrasounds^[4] .

• Depending on the results, the patient might need another ultrasound or imaging test, a fine needle aspiration of a breast cyst, which typically costs $150-$500, or a breast biopsy, which typically costs $1,000-$5,000, depending on the type of biopsy, according to women's health website Imaginis.com. The cost of a needle biopsy would fall on the lower end of the spectrum, and a surgical biopsy on the higher end. The Mayo Clinic has additional information on breast biopsy^[5] .

• Some clinics offer breast 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.

• 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 the breast ultrasound procedure.
• 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.
• The University of Maryland Medical Center Breast Center^[8] offers information on how a breast ultrasound compares with other types of breast imaging procedures.
• In case a biopsy is recommended after an ultrasound, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a guide to making decisions about a breast biopsy^[9] , including questions to ask the doctor beforehand.

1.  www.newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/58/Breast%20Ultrasound
2.  www.puebloradiology.com/ultrasound.html#10
3.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
4.  women.webmd.com/guide/breast-ultrasound
5.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-biopsy/MY00301/DSECTION=what-you-can-expect
6.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
7.  www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
8.  www.umm.edu/breastcenter/faq.htm#11
9.  www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ehc/products/17/407/core%20needle%20consumer%20gu...

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Does an Albuterol Inhaler Cost?		How Much Does an MRI Cost?		How Much Does Radiation Therapy Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Now that you are full of turkey, here's information on diet plans. The CDC recommends it is more important than ever to get a flu shot this year. Garden all winter long with an indoor greenhouse. It's a good idea to have the furnace checked in the fall, before you need it. Pruning trees before the storm season can help ensure dead branches won't imperil your home.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

shoulder mri Paid: 8000.00 Seriously, 8K for an MRI before all the secret insurance kicks in. I was stuck with a 1200 bill and my insurance is pretty good. This is insane for a 20 minute procedure with no nurse assistance... [more] -stevej45 MRI Cost Garage conversion for larger Den. Old den will become Breakfast room Paid: 21000.00 We removed garage door, put in a 107'X60" window and exterior door. We also framed/sheet rocked where the garage door had been and built a closet... [more] -USAF Retiree's wife Garage Conversion Cost Traffic citation Paid: 500.00 Flat rate... [more] -OL Traffic Ticket Attorney Cost what should have cost under 100 Paid: 399.67 had my back wheel stuck on someone's driveway and I was pulled out as easily as a tractor could have done... [more] -Morgan Moonscar Towing a Car Cost Why is dental insurance stuck in the 80's? Paid: 55000.00 In 1986, I started my first full time Big Girl job, which came with options for medical insurance that ranged from "Volkswagon to Cadillac, and everything in between" which was up to me to choose based on my needs, what I could af... [more] -Frogsoup09 Dental Implants Cost Sticker shock Paid: 389.00 I was totally shocked it came to 385 for one pair of glasses! Usually 220 at costco... [more] -Diana Evans Eyeglasses Cost