Retinal (fundus) photography Cost by Hospital

Retinal (fundus) photography is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1077 US hospitals across 49 states, from their machine-readable files.

$168median cash price · 1077 hospitals, 49 statestypically $55–$449 depending on the hospital
≈ 4.5× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$293
Cash / self-pay
$168
Insurer-negotiated
$135
Medicare pays
$37
$55$449
Median cash $168  ·  Medicare $37  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $168 — about 4.5× the Medicare rate ($37). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($74).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $293 list price could save about $125 (43%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Mount St. Mary's Hospital & Health Center Lewiston, NY $26 $23 ★ 2/5 163 min 15.3%
East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA $26 $223 ★ 2/5 162 min 15.3%
The Nebraska Methodist Hospital Omaha, NE $27 $45 ★ 4/5 156 min 15.5%
Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY $27 $34 ★ 4/5 109 min 14.6%
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $28 $104 — — —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson Carson City, MI $29 $96 ★ 4/5 95 min 15.2%
Edward W Sparrow Hospital Lansing, MI $29 $129 ★ 3/5 301 min 13.6%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $29 $39 ★ 4/5 183 min 15.0%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $29 $49 ★ 1/5 152 min 15.0%
Sparrow Ionia Hospital Ionia, MI $29 $40 ★ 2/5 158 min 15.2%
Brookings Health System Brookings, SD $29 $51 ★ 4/5 100 min 13.7%
Beloit Health System Beloit, WI $30 $58 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.5%
Cox Medical Center Branson Branson, MO $30 $142 ★ 4/5 209 min 13.7%
Preston Memorial Hospital Kingwood, WV $31 $50 — 111 min 15.0%
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $32 $117 ★ 2/5 81 min 15.4%
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $32 $117 ★ 2/5 — —
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $35 $119 ★ 4/5 168 min 16.2%
University Health System, Inc Knoxville, TN $35 $63 ★ 4/5 245 min 14.9%
East Tennessee Childrens Hospital Knoxville, TN $35 $63 — — —
Grant Memorial Hospital Petersburg, WV $36 — ★ 3/5 105 min 15.4%
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Bennington, VT $38 — ★ 3/5 196 min 15.8%
Cox Medical Centers Springfield, MO $38 $80 ★ 3/5 223 min 14.2%
Boulder Community Health Boulder, CO $38 $44 ★ 4/5 133 min 13.6%
Christ Hospital Cincinnati, OH $39 $54 ★ 5/5 163 min 14.0%
Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Inc Gassaway, WV $40 — — 102 min 15.0%

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated June 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Retinal (fundus) photography

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $168; Medicare pays $37.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 15
$21
$13 – $41
Medicaid 95
$32
$14 – $96
Tricare / VA 125
$36
$16 – $148
Independent Health 21
$36
$16 – $153
Medicare 208
$38
$19 – $153
Highmark 52
$45
$18 – $134
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 36
$45
$19 – $65
Molina Healthcare 237
$47
$16 – $171
MVP Health Care 44
$51
$19 – $225
Priority Health 21
$51
$19 – $358
Anthem 204
$54
$19 – $193
Amerigroup 71
$56
$16 – $140
Medica 40
$57
$19 – $134
AmeriHealth 94
$58
$18 – $148
Harvard Pilgrim 20
$65
$25 – $381
UPMC Health Plan 32
$66
$28 – $152
Oscar Health 56
$68
$29 – $262
Centene / Ambetter 326
$69
$17 – $225
Blue Cross Blue Shield 536
$69
$22 – $409
Geisinger 35
$70
$25 – $158
UnitedHealthcare 525
$72
$16 – $255
UCare 32
$106
$17 – $268
Cigna 327
$110
$23 – $297
HealthPartners 78
$110
$21 – $244
Humana 421
$117
$19 – $166
Aetna 508
$117
$20 – $243
SelectHealth 29
$120
$28 – $283
Sanford Health Plan 28
$122
$20 – $222
Coventry 38
$125
$37 – $392
Security Health Plan 26
$128
$23 – $283
Devoted Health 90
$128
$34 – $157
AvMed 16
$132
$84 – $233
Kaiser Permanente 94
$156
$38 – $421
Healthcare Highways 5
$160
$28 – $207
Health Net 71
$160
$37 – $375
Bright Health 14
$171
$72 – $188
EmblemHealth 41
$216
$18 – $1,050
MultiPlan / PHCS network 189
$226
$53 – $369

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
West Virginia$40
Virginia$55
Tennessee$55
Nebraska$56
Nevada$56
Kentucky$60

Prices by city

Chicago, ILAustin, TXNew York, NYBrooklyn, NYBronx, NYCharlotte, NCDallas, TXHouston, TXLos Angeles, CANashville, TNBaltimore, MDFort Worth, TXMilwaukee, WIPhiladelphia, PARochester, NYSan Antonio, TXArlington, TXAurora, COColorado Springs, COJacksonville, FLKansas City, MOKnoxville, TNPlano, TXSan Francisco, CA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaFloridaNew YorkOhioWisconsinIllinoisMinnesotaTennesseePennsylvaniaColoradoMichiganNorth CarolinaLouisianaIndianaNew JerseyMaineWest VirginiaMissouriIowaAlabamaOklahomaGeorgiaIdahoWashingtonMassachusettsKentuckyKansasUtahSouth CarolinaVirginiaMarylandSouth DakotaArkansasMontanaMississippiArizonaNew HampshireConnecticutNebraskaNorth DakotaWyomingOregonNevada

About these prices

Based on prices published by 1077 US hospitals across 49 states, the typical (median) cash price is $168, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $293, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $135, a Medicare rate of about $37. Most cash prices fall between $55 and $449 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Retinal (fundus) photography cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1077 US hospitals is $168. Most hospitals fall between $55 and $449. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Retinal (fundus) photography?
Medicare pays about $37. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Retinal (fundus) photography prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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