In most cases, earwax is a healthy part of ear function. However, an overabundance of earwax can cause aching, pressure and even ear infections. (See How Much Does Ear Infection Treatment Cost.)
Typical costs:
Without insurance, an appointment to have earwax removed can cost between $40 and $110 at a primary care physician's office or a clinic for people without insurance. CVS Minute Clinic[1] charges $99-139 for ear wax removal.
With insurance, typical copays and deductibles will apply. Copays for office visits range between $5 and $75, depending upon the insurance company. The average insured individual in the U.S. has a $19 office visit copay.
Over-the-counter earwax removal kits range from $5 for an Ototek Loop removal kit[2] to nearly $30 for a Kyrosol Ear Wax Removal System.[3]
Earwax removal can also be safely accomplished using eardrops. Drops range in cost from $5.15 for .75 ounces of Auro Ear Drops Wax Removal Aid[4] to $7.99 for .5 ounces of Debrox Ear Wax Removal Drops.[5]
Although the Food and Drug Administration warns against their use, some alternative health practitioners do "ear candling" to remove excess earwax. Ear candles cost between $2 for two beeswax candles to $250 for 75 candles, which is equal to about $3.30 per candle. Ear candling sessions at a spa, salon or massage clinic can cost between $25 and $80, depending upon the region of the country.
A doctor's office visit for earwax removal will include talking with the doctor about any ear symptoms or concerns. The doctor will examine the patient's ears for signs of infection or other problems, and determine the best earwax removal method. Some doctors use pressurized water to remove earwax; others remove the wax using a tiny plastic loop inserted into the ear; and some doctors opt for vacuum removal, using light suction to remove the wax buildup.
At-home earwax removal kits are similar to what a physician uses. Loop kits include instructions and a plastic loop to scoop out the wax. The Kryosol kit includes information on product use, a glycerin-based, wax-loosening solution in individual plastic pipettes and a syringe to place the solution inside the ear canal. Other kits include a bulb syringe, which helps remove the wax.
Ear wax drops include product information, dosing instructions and a container with between .5 ounces and 1 ounce of ear wax removal solution, which dissolves the ear wax inside the ear canal.
Additional costs:
The Food and Drug Administration strongly recommends that patients avoid ear candling. If ear candling results in burns or an ear injury, a doctor's visit or hospital visit may be required. For those without insurance a visit could cost between $50 and $100,000, depending upon the extent of the injury.
Shopping for ear wax removal:
Anyone with ear pain, stuffiness or difficulty hearing should consult a doctor before attempting earwax removal. Rarely, ear pain or stuffiness can be the result of an infection or other problem. Over-the-counter ear wax removal products could exacerbate the problem. In addition, patients with an injury to or perforation of the ear drum should not use any over-the-counter earwax removal methods. Over-the-counter methods should also not be used on infants or children who have ear tubes.
Patients considering an over-the-counter method should begin by selecting a system that fits their comfort level. Loop systems require a certain level of skill and eye-hand coordination. Drops are considered a medication and should be use with care. Patients can talk to a pharmacist about the options.
Before making a purchase in a pharmacy, make sure the packaging is complete and intact.
If purchasing online, research the company before buying ear candles, earwax removal kits or ear drops. The Food and Drug Administration[6] offers tips and advice for purchasing medications online.
Ask the technician how long he or she has been doing ear candling. Don't be afraid to ask if he or she has had any accidents associated with the treatment.
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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I’m a therapist & have been doing ear candling for clients for 25yrs. I charge $80 which includes lymphatic drainage & neck massage. Helps clear sinus passages too
Removal Method: Cone/ medical peroxide/ essential oils
Insurance: No insurance
A medical aesthetican did this for me in a health and wellness clinic. Insurance doesn't cover and it only costed $30. Yes it can be done at home but I am not paying for a co pay, dr visit nothing just the service fee. All procedures are performed under a medical provider with a Dr on standby. They used other things that I can not buy over the counter like medical hydrogen peroxide which is more effective than over the counter drug store and saline solution. They closed my service with essential oils the rebalance the ears natural homeostasis so it doesn't disrupt the natural chemistry of the ear. So worth it for 30 bucks. This is now a part of my natural care by choice where it doesn't gouge my pockets. Her fb page is aesthetic Beauty Bar dermal and wellness institute. Highly recommended
I do this about once every 6 months. This time total charges $180. Both ears: total 30 minutes of suction and digging. Insurance negotiated $67, and I paid $112. This is much better than some, but it seems excessive for the service. I'll try my luck with CVS next time.
I went to patient first and I got to see a doctor for 129 dollars then they checked both my ears but only my right ear could be flushed because it was completely blocked with ear wax. So I am alright now. Before, I could hear my voice echoing in my head when i talked and my right ear was feeling full and stuffy, so I knew my ear was blocked., I just didn’t know if it was safe to do it myself or if I had any infections. To keep it safe I just went to the doctor and then they did just that, I didn’t need to go for any scans. Or pay additional charges for flushing.
Removal Method: ER doctor irrigated with warm saline
Insurance: Medicare+MassHealth
More than a simple irrigation. Prior to visit, tried bulb and syringe irrigation with warm water, soak with carbamide peroxide 3%, hydrogen peroxide 5%, and more irrigation, for hours at a time, on several occasions, to no avail. My wax is not affected by any peroxide. Cotton swabs only made it worse. After years, tinnutus worsened, hearing loss, failed irrigations blocked nearly all hearing for 1-2 weeks. Woke one morning, severe vertigo and nausea, unable to walk, drive or sit. Ambulance only option. In ER, simple drops and irrigation did not work. Warm saline bag, IV tube, and IV with catheter (need applicator removed), painfully scraped and irrigated with surgical precision to free wax from sides of ear canal, then popped plugs out with water pressure. Whole process was an hour or more. 1" long, 1/4-3/8" wide, from each ear. Vertigo and nausea quickly resolved. After, I could vibrantly hear the discharge papers rustling simply as he carried them. I could hear paper!
Went to Grace ER-Pearland for dizziness and vertigo, they irrigated both my ears and I was there an hour. Felt like a simple ear wash. They billed insurance $7000 for bilateral ear surgery. They say I owe $5k of it. Insanity
Get the ear cleaning kit blue bulb. Put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (Walmart) in you ear. Tilt head or lie on your side until the bubbling sound stops (5-10 minutes). Flush you ear with slightly warm water using the blue bulb. Drain you ear. Repeat until the wax falls out or no bubbling occurs.
Orlando health charged me a ridiculous amount to get one ear cleaned out, it took two minutes to do. I still haven’t paid the bill as Im waiting for them to clearly explain why they charged me so much and I have a right for them to clearly explain these charges to me.
When the AMA allowed for CPT code 69209 in 2016, the price of ear lavage, ear drops with water and drainage into a basin performed by a medical assistant (MA), skyrocketed. Ear lavage was covered under the office fee, and usually paid the small copay. Now the University of Michigan Hospitals charge a whopping $325.80, HAP allowed $255.40. What a farce and ripoff! It is now a minor procedure, no informed consent, there are risks to this procedure. Does U of M inform patients before they hurry to "clean" your ears about the exorbitant cost or the risks? NO! They want their money. It appears to be an epidemic of impacted cerumen. Does U of M release how much money they gouged from insurance and patients and lined their pockets? NO! The hospitals and insurance companies are continually making money, and patients are continually losing money, it is a racket.
I have a $3000 deductible that did not cover this charge. So yes, you are reading correctly - $1,313.84 in bodunk Ocala, FL to have ear wax removed from one ear. My regular doctor couldn't see me for 4-5 weeks and suggested a quick care clinic. NEVER AGAIN!
Yes, just got the bill! I paid my copay at my visit. Just received a bill for $585 (only what the insurance company would allow them to charge), but they initially charged $1100 for a "microscopic ear exam" and removal of wax (a little bitty piece). What a scam! My husbands orthopedic surgeon charged him less than this quack! I'm furious!!!!
I brought my son for a checkup at University of Miami hospital. The doctor wanted to make sure the ear was clear but there's some earwax on one side so she removed it. After I received the bill, I saw a $132 charge on that 10 seconds earwax removal!!! If you do the math, that's like $50K per hour lab! I wasn't even notified that I needed to pay. This is robbery.
before insurance rate 110.. After insurance rate 105. In 2015 and 2016. I went for a routine physical check and the doc performed this service without informing me that this is going to cost me extra 100 bucks. Feel cheated since i did not have any ear pain or hearing discomfort. I tried calling the hospital and insurance. The hospital staff was very rude, have never had to deal with such uncooperative staff ever that too at a hospital when the least i would expect is some compassion towards its customers/patients
I went to Raleigh Capitol ENT due to earwax blockage in both ears and some symptoms of vertigo. It took about 15 minutes to remove the earwax with a suction tool and 2 minutes to test for anymore signs of vertigo (which I had already stated had passed several days ago and not returned.) I paid the full cost ($340) out of pocket because I had not met my insurance deductible yet. If I need to have my ears cleaned out again I'll be looking for somewhere less expensive, probably a walk-in clinic.
Went to Midtown New York Doctord Urgent Care and they cleaned it out right away. I can't remember how much it was sans insurance, but it was less than $400 (which is crazy, $40 is the correct price for such a service :))
Wow, I thought Ear Wax removal was a simple procedure, and inexpensive... Boy was I wrong. I foolishly consulted my insurance, which stated it should be 'around $39' and gave a list of providers... whom I would call and they'd reply they 'dont do that service.' So I called my Dr, who didnt have an availability, so i was refered to a different Cleveland Clinic Hospital. The 'Sitting in the Waiting Room' Fee is $310.00. The 14 minute ear wax removal procedure was $201. So it cost ME $172 for this quick, simple procedure. #Crooks. What a fun way to make $2,000 an hour.
Office visit was $85.18 after insurance; before $422. Cost of removal was $689.50 after insurance; before $1642. UM Health University of Miami Health System. They are a group of rich snobs who charge whatever they want and demand patients pay no matter what.
I've been quoted a price in Gainesville, FL of $199.00. I am homeless and unemployed. I have some money but can't afford that. I was hoping $70 to $90 and I could even go to $100.
After an unsuccessful attempt by Walgreen's I went to my ENT in St. Peters, MO and paid for an office visit and a Binocular microscopy. Walgreen's charged $15.00 plus $17.00 for an antibiotic after gouging my ear canal. The next day I was sent to ENT and was billed 250.00 of which UHC ins. paid $98.79 and I paid 149.19 and there was a Sequestration Reduction of $2.02. Yes very confusing.
i paid $200 Dr Lloyd Ford,for just talking he consider i do not need MY EAR WASHED BUT schedule me for a earing test which scare me thinking how much it will cost me and if i cancel i had to pay $25...!
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