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CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Tests, X-Rays & Imaging > Breast Ultrasound

Breast Ultrasound Cost

How Much Does a Breast Ultrasound Cost?
 
average costWith Health Insurance: $10-$50 Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurancehigh costWithout Health Insurance: $250-$400+
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A breast ultrasound typically is used as a follow-up to a mammogram to get more information about an abnormality, or to check for a growth in a patient who is experiencing certain symptoms. A breast ultrasound has no known risks.

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.
Related articles: Mammogram, Breast Cyst Aspiration

What should be included:
  • 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] .
Additional costs:
  • 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] .
Discounts:
  • 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.
Shopping for a breast 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 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.
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
Breast ultrasound after mammogram
Amount: $311.09
Posted by: a user in Saint Paul, MN.Posted: March 2nd, 2020 11:03AM
Medical Center: Regions HospitalPractitioner:
I have full insurance. The hospital charged $538 for simply visiting the facility. Insurance covered $367.87 from that and pushed $170.13 to me.
Then another bill came for $143.96 for the actual service?
What really is the purpose of insurance???
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Breast Ultrasound
Amount: $3,828.00
Posted by: lgarau in Miami Lakes, FL.Posted: February 3rd, 2020 09:02AM
Medical Center: Palmetto General HospitalPractitioner:
A ridiculous amount of money to charge for one breast ultrasound. I am going to shop around next time.
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Breast ultrasound
Amount: $150.00
Posted by: HealthNocare in Richmind, VA.Posted: October 16th, 2019 05:10PM
Medical Center: Bon SecoursPractitioner:
This is the standard copay for breast cancer screening. I guess ACA and the ObamaNation team are ignorant to the fact that inflammatory breast cancer can't be determined on mammogram.. ultrasound seems to be the best method.. yet have same copay.as MRI, PET, etc .
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mamo & ultra sound
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: e. j. fiorenza in chandler, AZ.Posted: August 9th, 2019 05:08PM
Medical Center: simonmedPractitioner:
charged 350.00 co-pay. my insurance SAYS I HAVE NO CO-PAY FOR THIS SERVICE.
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Ultrasound of one breast
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: a user in Lexington, KY.Posted: August 5th, 2019 05:08PM
Medical Center: University of KentuckyPractitioner:
$50 for x-ray and $300 for "hospital services," whatever that means. That cost was after insurance; without, full cost would have been around $850. Sounds like I got off lightly after reading the other comments here.
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Ultrasound and computer X-ray for sense breast tissue
Amount: $1,486.00
Posted by: AJ209 in Stockton, CA.Posted: November 27th, 2018 05:11PM
Medical Center: Kaiser Stockton CAPractitioner:
Outrageous amount to pay for one breast only. Not doing it again for dense breast tissue at 59. I am a bronze plan member of Kaiser
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DX Mammo and Ultrasound
Amount: $984.00
Posted by: Healthcare or Sickcare in Las Cruces, NM.Posted: June 7th, 2018 06:06AM
Medical Center: Memorial Medical Center and Imaging AssoPractitioner:
High Deductible. Benign finding. Facility lacked compassion or kindness; waited for 2 hours, no apology for wait, ultrasound tech did not speak to me or provide eye contact, and forcefully pulled my breast.
I am a Registered Nurse with over 19 years experience. The care and cost was deplorable. We must vote for change!
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Mammogram and Ultrasound, with analysis by radiologist
Amount: $1,544.47
Posted by: CKCK in Katonah, NY.Posted: March 21st, 2018 05:03AM
Medical Center: Yorktown ImagingPractitioner:
Total charges 3116 with insurance adjustment of 1571.53. Patient pays 1544.47. Very glad to have found this site to get the references. Need to shop around for future tests.
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Mammogram and Ultrasound
Amount: $590.83
Posted by: Chris Smith in Alexandria, VA.Posted: September 21st, 2017 07:09AM
Medical Center: Ultrasound Assoc, N. VAPractitioner:
$590 was the out of pocket which is outrageous. I looked at the claim, they charged $863 PER BREAST!!!! This does not include the X-ray of $548...Insurance covered 80% but the insurance company should even question this!!! Why so much and why charge so much per breast??!??!!!???! It's the fleecing of America!!!
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Ultrasound following a Mammogram
Amount: $678.00
Posted by: Suzi Leonard in Hendersonville, NC.Posted: August 14th, 2017 03:08PM
Medical Center: Pardee, Hendersonville, NCPractitioner:
Part of the UNC system. I am a Medicare patient, but this seems an outrageous amount for an ultrasound, on top of a $579 Mammography charge. No wonder we're in trouble with health costs!
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Follow up bilateral ultrasound
Amount: $151.00
Posted by: K D in HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC.Posted: July 14th, 2017 06:07AM
Medical Center: Suncoast ImagingPractitioner:
Insurance price $300 towards deductible. $151 self pay in office.
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Ultrasound guided core biopsy
Amount: $5,000.00
Posted by: Rae King in Edgewood, KY.Posted: March 4th, 2017 05:03PM
Medical Center: St ElizabethPractitioner:
$4,200 charge for 30 minute usage of a procedure room I was not advised of prior to. Was not sure this room was necessary.
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ultrasound of breast following a Mamogram
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: rjohnson in Miami, FL.Posted: February 24th, 2017 08:02AM
Medical Center: Baptist of Kendall Miami FloridaPractitioner:
A reminder for a mammogram and ultrasound to be done the call the cost will $379.00 for the ultrasound of breast if I did not have the funds I can reschedule until when I get the money; When you come up with $250.00 we can see you where are the millions upon millions of funds raised are going
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External Resources:
  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...
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