Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy) Cost

Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy) is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 1575 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$6,467median cash price · 1575 hospitals, 52 statestypically $1,840–$17,230 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.5× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$12,599
Cash / self-pay
$6,467
Insurer-negotiated
$4,171
Medicare pays
$760
$1,840$17,230
Median cash $6,467  ·  Medicare $760  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $6,467 — about 8.5× the Medicare rate ($760). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($1,520).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $12,599 list price could save about $6,132 (49%).

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
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Martinez, CA $988 — ★ 4/5 171 min —
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $994 — — 130 min —
Unity Health-Newport Newport, AR $994 — — 103 min —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $1,007 $812 ★ 4/5 298 min —
John H Stroger Jr Hospital Chicago, IL $1,011 $794 ★ 2/5 293 min —
Provident Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL $1,011 $794 — 190 min —
Henry County Hospital, Inc Napoleon, OH $1,015 $1,353 ★ 2/5 104 min —
Mark Twain Medical Center San Andreas, CA $1,034 $1,123 ★ 3/5 123 min —
Island Hospital Anacortes, WA $1,074 $4,241 ★ 4/5 204 min —
University Medical Center Las Vegas, NV $1,096 $842 ★ 2/5 238 min —
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR $1,130 — ★ 3/5 170 min —
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR $1,130 — ★ 4/5 183 min —
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Gresham, OR $1,130 — ★ 3/5 154 min —
Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Tualatin, OR $1,130 — ★ 2/5 177 min —
Olympic Medical Center Port Angeles, WA $1,136 $1,420 ★ 3/5 251 min —
Healdsburg Hospital Healdsburg, CA $1,146 $9,511 — 94 min —
Montgomery General Hospital Montgomery, WV $1,159 $4,862 — 100 min —
CHI St Alexius Health Williston Williston, ND $1,179 $1,666 ★ 3/5 156 min —
Elkview General Hospital Hobart, OK $1,256 $2,387 — — —
Down East Community Hospital Machias, ME $1,268 $1,487 ★ 4/5 195 min —
Citizens Memorial Hospital Bolivar, MO $1,272 $3,763 ★ 3/5 186 min —
Wyandot Memorial Hospital Upper Sandusky, OH $1,297 $2,934 ★ 5/5 132 min —
Gifford Medical Center Randolph, VT $1,304 $2,080 ★ 5/5 — —
Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County Darlington, WI $1,305 $888 — 106 min —
York Hospital York, ME $1,371 — ★ 4/5 166 min —

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 October 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 Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy)

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: $6,467; Medicare pays $760.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 178
$261
$125 – $3,358
Univera 8
$425
$42 – $675
Geisinger 40
$620
$362 – $4,536
Amerigroup 111
$1,200
$1,143 – $3,718
AmeriHealth 149
$1,203
$271 – $7,501
Sanford Health Plan 27
$1,219
$528 – $6,107
Medicare 299
$1,449
$239 – $4,978
UCare 37
$1,468
$416 – $3,654
Medica 64
$1,912
$523 – $12,803
Priority Health 31
$2,128
$468 – $9,998
HealthPartners 112
$2,281
$390 – $7,436
Molina Healthcare 399
$2,702
$509 – $4,533
Centene / Ambetter 573
$2,905
$1,200 – $4,167
Highmark 92
$3,124
$273 – $12,679
Harvard Pilgrim 24
$3,193
$1,389 – $9,860
Tricare / VA 211
$3,308
$280 – $9,846
Security Health Plan 25
$3,352
$528 – $10,530
Devoted Health 107
$3,449
$760 – $3,890
Humana 683
$3,462
$536 – $11,033
Coventry 68
$3,462
$732 – $17,623
UPMC Health Plan 60
$3,692
$510 – $9,519
Anthem 413
$3,967
$505 – $12,679
MVP Health Care 49
$4,081
$554 – $9,998
Independent Health 15
$4,230
$1,482 – $5,414
Health Net 168
$4,356
$431 – $12,177
Kaiser Permanente 159
$4,379
$413 – $14,173
UnitedHealthcare 1008
$4,492
$760 – $15,075
SelectHealth 36
$4,882
$1,449 – $10,022
EmblemHealth 57
$5,014
$1,775 – $27,809
Blue Cross Blue Shield 861
$5,139
$426 – $14,687
Bright Health 40
$5,142
$3,520 – $7,130
Oscar Health 169
$5,274
$1,000 – $8,560
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 52
$5,364
$701 – $12,451
Aetna 991
$6,426
$744 – $17,197
Cigna 761
$6,487
$1,449 – $16,489
MultiPlan / PHCS network 342
$7,238
$1,323 – $26,689
Healthcare Highways 30
$8,858
$8,517 – $10,342
AvMed 37
$13,943
$2,450 – $17,074

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
Oregon$1,669
Iowa$1,839
Maine$1,847
Vermont$1,947
North Dakota$1,954
Montana$2,122

Prices by city

Prices by state

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

Does Medicare cover Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $760. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $152 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 1575 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $6,467, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $12,599, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $4,171, a Medicare rate of about $760. Most cash prices fall between $1,840 and $17,230 — 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 Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1575 US hospitals is $6,467. Most hospitals fall between $1,840 and $17,230. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $760). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy)?
Medicare pays about $760. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Kidney stone shock-wave (lithotripsy) 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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