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CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Medical Specialties & Departments > Kidney Stone Treatment

Kidney Stone Treatment Cost

How Much Does Kidney Stone Treatment Cost?
 
average costNon-Surgical Treatment: $132-$500high costSurgical Treatment or Lithotripsy: $7,400-$20,000+

Kidney stones are formed by minerals in the urine. They can be extremely painful and can, in some cases, cause blockage that interferes with kidney function or leads to kidney damage.

Typical costs:

  • Kidney stone treatment typically would be covered by health insurance. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically would consist of a doctor visit specialist copay, prescription drug copays, possibly a hospital copay of $100 or more, and coinsurance of 10% to 50% for the procedure, which could reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation[1] , the average hospital copay for outpatient surgery is $132 and for inpatient surgery is $232.The average coinsurance rate is 17% to 18%.
  • For patients not covered by health insurance, kidney stone treatment typically costs less than $500 to allow the stone to pass naturally with monitoring from a doctor, and possibly prescription medication. For example, at Southern Illinois Urology, the cost of a doctor consultation is $150. One medicine sometimes prescribed to patients with kidney stones, Urocit-K, costs about $65 for a one-month supply at Drugstore.com. Another, Zyloprim, costs about $80. Generic versions of some of the drugs are available for less than $20; for example, Drugstore.com sells 100 tablets of Allopurinol (generic Zyloprim) for $13.99.
  • Kidney stone treatment can cost from just under $10,000 to $20,000 or more for surgical removal or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). For example, at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[2] , in Lincoln, NE, a cystourethroscopy -- a kind of examination of the urinary tract using a long, flexible tube -- with removal of a kidney stone typically costs about $7,400-$12,200, not including doctor fee. At Garden City Hospital[3] , in Michigan, the full price of a surgical kidney stone removal via cystoscopy is about $8,700 -- but the hospital offers it at a discounted price of about $2,500 for uninsured patients. Fragmenting a kidney stone using ESWL typically costs about $10,700-$16,700 or more. At Baptist Memorial Health Care, in Memphis, ESWL costs about $9,870 not including the doctor fee. According to NewChoiceHealth.com[4] , the national average cost for ESWL is $17,400 -- with range from $8,300 to $35,800.
Related articles: Urinary Tract Infection Treatment, CT Scan

What should be included:
  • Some smaller kidney stones can pass naturally. After first seeking the advice of a doctor, the patient would drink at least six glasses of water per day, and use over-the-counter pain relievers -- and possibly prescription medications -- while waiting for the stone to pass. WebMD has information[5] on medications for kidney stones.
  • For ESWL, the most common method of treatment for stones that are actually in the kidney (rather than the ureters or bladder), the patient is placed under local or general anesthesia and lies in either a tub of warm water or on a special cushion on a table. X-rays or ultrasound are used to locate the kidney stone, then up to 2,000 shock waves are passed through the patient to crush the stone. Typically, a day or two of hospitalization is required, and there might be pain or bleeding as fragments are passed.
  • In ureteroscopy, which is often used for stones in the ureters (the tubes connecting the bladder to the kidneys), the doctor passes a flexible scope with a basket on it through the urethra, and bladder, into the ureters. The doctor grabs the stone with the basket and removes it. This typically is an outpatient procedure.
  • In percutaneous nephrolithotomy/percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, which might be used for stones of a size or shape that make them impossible to remove through other methods, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. The doctor makes a small incision in the back and inserts instruments to either remove or break up the stone. A few days of hospitalization and about a week off work are required.
  • The National Kidney Foundation offers overviews of ESWL[6] , ureteroscopy[7] and percutaneous nephrolithotomy/nephrolithotripsy[8] .
Additional costs:
  • Depending on the type of kidney stone, a dietician might recommend a kidney stone prevention diet[9] . Many hospitals have dieticians available, and an initial consultation can cost $100-$200.
Discounts:
  • Some clinics, such as the NYC Free Clinic[10] and the Clinic at Brackenridge[11] in Austin, TX, offer access to specialist care. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers a tool[12] to find a federally funded health clinic.
Shopping for kidney stone treatment:
  • The American Urological Association offers a urologist locator[13] by zip code. It is important to check to make sure the doctor is board-certified by the American Board of Urology[14] .
  • It is important to discuss risks with the doctor. Risks vary, depending on the treatment but can include reaction to anesthesia, infection and bleeding.
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
What a joy
Amount: $100.00
Posted by: Holyshizbatman in Chattanooga, TN.Posted: March 8th, 2022 09:03PM
Treatment or Medication: LithotripsyMedical Center: CHI memorial
This was one expensive little stone! Insurance paid 18,000 ish and sadly here we are two years later with around 12+ stones in both sides. Just had ureteroscopy number one with another in a few weeks. STUPID STENTS lol
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3 kidney stones
Amount: $19,700.00
Posted by: a user in Portland, OR.Posted: January 17th, 2022 03:01AM
Treatment or Medication: LithotripsyMedical Center:
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Kidney stone
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: a user in London UK, Other.Posted: November 12th, 2021 03:11AM
Treatment or Medication: Kidney stone removal, stent insertionMedical Center: Guy’s Hospital, Lewisham Hospital, UK
ER visit (moved to private room quickly), pain meds, blood tests, malaria test, ECG, CT scan, moved to ward, transferred to specialist hospital via ambulance, covid tests, overnight stay, lots of antibiotics, fluids, consultations, 3 full meals allowed to go home to pass naturally as only 3mm. Another CT scan and consultation. Kidney stone not passed naturally so scheduled for surgery following week. Day surgery at Guy’s (specialist unit), more covid tests, blood tests, CT scan, surgery under general anaesthetic, stone fragmented with laser, stent inserted, recovery lounge, something to eat, follow up consultation next day (phone). Stent removal scheduled. Paid £0 total, all through national health service.
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Er kidney stone treatment
Amount: $17,834.00
Posted by: Kattarina in Folsom, CA.Posted: October 6th, 2021 07:10PM
Treatment or Medication: One scan, Iv for morphine, blood tests,Medical Center: Mercy Hospital Folsom,Ca
Very expensive for four hours and no intervention other than pain meds and fluids pushed through iv.
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2 Lithotripsies & 4 Ureteroscopies +++
Amount: $40.00
Posted by: MapleMama in Saskatoon, Other.Posted: January 18th, 2021 04:01PM
Treatment or Medication: Medical Center: Saskatoon City Hosp & St. Paul’s Hosp
Husband had 2 lithotripsies, 4 ureteroscopies, 2 ultrasounds, 3 X-rays, countless blood tests, 2 CT scans and multiple prescriptions and doctor visits. Thanks to the Canadian healthcare system, and that we had private insurance for prescriptions - all we had to pay was $40 for parking for all of our trips to the hospital. Total.
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Kidney Stone expense in Italy
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: MaryGR in San Benedetto del Tronto, Other.Posted: September 8th, 2020 07:09AM
Treatment or Medication: Ambulance, ER, sonar, CTMedical Center: Madonna del Soccorso, San B Tr Italy
Brought into hospital in ambulance, examination in ER (with 12/h observation), 3 sonars - 1 in ER, 1 in diagnostic imaging, 1 in urologist office (abdomen, pelvis), 1 CT, visit with urologist, full blood tests, Covid test. Stone passed on its own the day checked out of hospital and following specialist visit in another city (hospital is still a Covid presidium for the region, so services reduced for all other things but emergencies and neuro. I was billed exclusively for the CT in a private structure that is associated with the Healthcare system (€36.20 and the remainder was antibiotics) because I had been released from the Hospital. Amazing healthcare system.
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Kidney stone treatment
Amount: $21,400.00
Posted by: Jonathan F in Palmdale, CA.Posted: July 8th, 2019 12:07PM
Treatment or Medication: Medical Center: Palmdale regional medical center
Had a small kidney stone, layed on a bed in the ER for 6 hours, one ct scan, one shot of meds and thats it. charged me $21,400 for the hospital and $2,200 for the doctor that i only saw once. No insurance so of course I cant pay it.
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ER kidney stone treatment
Amount: $21,400.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Palm Springs, CA.Posted: May 17th, 2019 11:05PM
Treatment or Medication: Morphine and a MRIMedical Center: Desert Regional
Ridiculous!! My husband was in the ER for 5 hours. They gave him morphine and took an MRI..he ended up passing the kidney stone naturally and the total charge was 21,400 before insurance! What in the world?
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kidney stones
Amount: $234.00
Posted by: Trick in Suzhou, China, LA.Posted: February 25th, 2018 10:02PM
Treatment or Medication: variousMedical Center: BENQ
I had blood tests,urine test,ultrasound and a CT Scan. No insurance amount above is the total cost. One reason I have retired in China.
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Kidney Stone Surgery cost
Amount: $25,700.00
Posted by: a user in Bloomington, IN.Posted: December 8th, 2017 12:12PM
Treatment or Medication: Ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsyMedical Center: Bloomington, IN
The estimated cost of Ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for Kidney stones with my insurance was $23,662.00 for the Hospital and $2,075.00 for the surgeon.
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Ridiculous amount of my hospital bill!!!
Amount: $8,000.00
Posted by: mark1065 in Concord, CA.Posted: January 27th, 2017 08:01AM
Treatment or Medication: Kidney StoneMedical Center: John Muir Concord
I stayed in the hospital for three days. I had a stint put in me. For a 9mm kidney stone. Then I had a Lithiography done a week later. Total cost 114,000.00 !!!! 100 hundred thousand dollars!! You telling me kidney stone treatment is anywhere from 10K to 20K. No wonder our health care is so messed up!! who can afford being sick
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Kidney stone expense
Amount: $13,000.00
Posted by: Cstar in Hollywood, FL.Posted: October 16th, 2016 08:10PM
Treatment or Medication: Medical Center: Memorial hospital in Hollywood, FL.
I went to the ER for a kidney stone as the pain was unbearable, and I never passed a stone before so I wasn't sure what was going on. They gave me a relaxing drug, spent maybe 4hrs in the hospital for monitoring and a few test.... $13,000? Really?
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kidney stone
Amount: $10,000.00
Posted by: a user in decherd, TN.Posted: June 16th, 2016 12:06PM
Treatment or Medication: pain killersMedical Center: local hospital
when to emergency room at local hospital. was there for 2 hours. was given fluid to hydrate by body and pain meds and one x-ray to be sure of stone size, was a small stone. passed it myself. the cost was what shocked me. by reading the post by other people it appears to me I paid to have it removed by doctor. this is crazy. I have health insurance that cost me 500 per month. but still had to pay over 2,500 after what my insurance paid. looks like the new health care system is working better for people who do not have to pay for their insurance. I'm still trying to pay off what I owe.
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Kidney stone lithotripsy
Amount: $63,000.00
Posted by: Mike OF. in Puyallup, WA.Posted: April 18th, 2016 12:04PM
Treatment or Medication: LithotripsyMedical Center:
I recently had a routine procedure to pulverize my kidney stones in both kidneys. I was in the operating room for about an hour ($40,000) and in a recovery room for about an hour ($7,300). I just received a bill for over $63,000.Fortunately, I have insurance, but this is highway robbery.
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Lithotripsy Marietta Ga
Amount: $40,000.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Marietta, GA.Posted: January 21st, 2016 05:01AM
Treatment or Medication: LithotripsyMedical Center: Well star
I am so tired of price gauging by hospitals. This was a 2 hour procedure( which did not work) and the cost is ridiculous. Now my son has to go in for the ureteroscopy wonder how much that will cost
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kidney stone
Amount: $8,078.00
Posted by: JudyA in fenton, MO.Posted: January 13th, 2016 02:01PM
Treatment or Medication: pain medicationMedical Center: SSM St Clare Hospital
Spent a few hours in ER and had a scan done to confirm a kidney stone. Went home with pain meds and the stone passed the next day. Hospital billed $6378, of which $4127 was for the scan. ER doctor billed $1700. Price for the scan and doctor seem extremely high. Dr came in twice.
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Kidney stone in Emergency Room
Amount: $5,000.00
Posted by: Dale A in Bountiful, UT.Posted: November 4th, 2015 01:11PM
Treatment or Medication: Natural passageMedical Center: Lakeview Hospital, Utah
This occurred 3 years ago with no insurance. My wife became violently ill and in severe pain one morning. Scared me all to hell and took her to Emergency. They put her in a curtained area and gave her IV pain meds. That made her happy(er). Emergency doc ordered a CT and saw kidney stones. All told, she stayed in Emergency about 3 hours. Then they gave her a small screen to pee in (catch the stone), a couple of med scripts, and said adios. $5,000 on a credit card with lousy rewards.
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Kidney Stone Cost $12k - (includes anesthesia, laser work, & stent)
Amount: $11,900.00
Posted by: Mike2 in Plano, TX.Posted: October 5th, 2015 03:10PM
Treatment or Medication: Ureteroscopy, CT Scan, & pain medsMedical Center: Baylor Health
Total cost was 12k. Dr/s portion was $600 (I paid 25% = $150), Hospital charge for procedure was 11,300 (I paid $2,900) plus I paid $200 for the initial ER visit (included a Cat Scan and some Morphine - the pain med injection was well worth the money). Hospital costs seem rather high, to me.....My insurance coverage was not as great as I had hoped (25% Out of Pocket) but it can always be worse.
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kidney stones
Amount: $112.00
Posted by: ouch in st helena, CA.Posted: July 17th, 2015 02:07PM
Treatment or Medication: lithrotripsyMedical Center: st. helena, ca
So I was lucky enough to have kidney stones in both kidneys and had to have them done separately. My insurance reduced the amount paid to about 34k for each treatment. I was shocked to say the least for the price of this. This does not include docs, or any lab fees just the hospital. They also don't have their own machine it only comes to the hospital once per month
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Lithotripsy or ESW cost
Amount: $11,000.00
Posted by: Tay in Plano, TX.Posted: January 21st, 2015 05:01AM
Treatment or Medication: ESWMedical Center: Baylor Frisco, TX
I had two stones, each under 1 cm, reduced to sediment by a successful lithotripsy procedure performed during general. My deductible with BCBS was $6000,
The $11000 cost includes initial MD visit ($135), CT scan $276 (which was done at an independent imaging center therefore much less expensive), Urologist fee ($700), hospital costs (facility,meds) and anesthesia cost.
The hospital does not own the lithotripsy unit used on me. Instead it contracts its use from a mobile imaging company which provides the imaging hardware and technician to several hospitals in the region. This would seem to be a more economical choice by the hospital in that it only pays a per use fee.
I am shocked however by the high cost the hospital charges for this procedure and now wonder what others are paying.
Shopping around for a better cost is not likely to happen in my case. The urologist I chose and trust has privileges only at this hospital.
BTW my procedure occurred in Jan of 2015 (not 2014).
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kidney stone expense
Amount: $4,500.00
Posted by: a user in oakland, CA.Posted: July 21st, 2014 03:07PM
Treatment or Medication: Medical Center: summit, oakland
just spoke to intake person, my procedure will be billed at $82,600. yes, that is eighty two thousand dollars. no wonder we are in trouble.
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External Resources:
  1.  kff.org/health-costs/report/employer-health-benefits-2012-annual-survey/
  2.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
  3.  www.gch.org/Home.aspx?id=219&sid=1
  4.  www.newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/136/Lithotripsy%20(Kidney%20Stone%20Re...
  5.  www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/kidney-stones-medications
  6.  www.kidney.org/atoz/content/lithotripsy.cfm
  7.  www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones_Ureteroscopy.cfm
  8.  www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones_PNN.cfm
  9.  kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kidneystonediet/
  10.  nycfreeclinic.med.nyu.edu/information-for-patients/schedule-appointment
  11.  www.seton.net/locations/brackenridge/services
  12.  bphc.hrsa.gov/technicalassistance/taresources/slidingscale.html
  13.  www.urologyhealth.org/urology/findurologist.cfm
  14.  www.abu.org/
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