Tonsillectomy Cost by Hospital

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 1424 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$3,874median cash price · 1424 hospitals, 52 statestypically $653–$13,315 depending on the hospital
≈ 15.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$5,824
Cash / self-pay
$3,874
Insurer-negotiated
$4,243
Medicare pays
$252
$653$13,315
Median cash $3,874  ·  Medicare $252  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $3,874 — about 15.4× the Medicare rate ($252). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($504).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $5,824 list price could save about $1,950 (33%).

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
St Joseph's Hospital Health Center Syracuse, NY $584 $122 ★ 2/5 228 min 16.2%
Bellville Medical Center Bellville, TX $584 $122 — 101 min 15.6%
Chase County Community Hospital Imperial, NE $592 $557 — 131 min 15.5%
Ringgold County Hospital Mount Ayr, IA $598 — — 140 min 14.7%
Community Memorial Hospital Cloquet, MN $613 $915 — 128 min 15.2%
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $614 $314 ★ 5/5 231 min 13.5%
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Martinez, CA $630 — ★ 4/5 175 min 14.2%
Margaret Mary Community Hospital Inc Batesville, IN $636 $314 — 132 min 15.1%
Island Hospital Anacortes, WA $645 $1,862 ★ 4/5 193 min 14.8%
Grand River Hospital District Rifle, CO $649 $2,845 — 107 min 14.4%
Down East Community Hospital Machias, ME $653 $737 ★ 4/5 189 min 14.7%
Samaritan Medical Center Watertown, NY $653 $4,146 ★ 2/5 260 min 15.3%
Clifton-Fine Hospital Star Lake, NY $653 $4,146 — — —
Harney District Hospital Burns, OR $653 $723 — 93 min 15.6%
Mercy Hospital Paris Paris, AR $655 $395 ★ 5/5 117 min 14.4%
Jamestown Regional Medical Center Jamestown, ND $661 $650 ★ 4/5 110 min 14.7%
Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff, AR $664 $3,147 ★ 1/5 200 min 15.3%
Altru Hospital Grand Forks, ND $671 $5,176 ★ 3/5 167 min 13.9%
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake, IA $674 — ★ 2/5 151 min 15.0%
Greater Regional Medical Center Creston, IA $680 — ★ 3/5 98 min 14.5%
Carle Health Methodist Hospital Peoria, IL $683 $784 ★ 2/5 220 min 14.7%
Trinity Rock Island Rock Island, IL $683 $913 ★ 3/5 172 min 15.4%
Unitypoint Health-Marshalltown Marshalltown, IA $683 $674 ★ 3/5 154 min 15.2%
Trinity Muscatine Muscatine, IA $683 $812 ★ 4/5 135 min 13.9%
Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge, IA $683 $857 ★ 2/5 168 min 15.2%

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 Tonsillectomy

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: $3,874; Medicare pays $252.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 158
$127
$74 – $1,671
Univera 12
$225
$24 – $357
Medicare 268
$260
$109 – $5,982
Independent Health 21
$311
$141 – $1,772
Sanford Health Plan 27
$553
$212 – $5,888
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 41
$699
$662 – $5,381
UCare 39
$791
$206 – $6,218
Geisinger 32
$1,110
$267 – $7,060
Priority Health 33
$1,117
$225 – $5,310
AmeriHealth 109
$1,155
$209 – $9,094
HealthPartners 98
$1,181
$210 – $7,122
Tricare / VA 182
$1,465
$138 – $6,864
MVP Health Care 43
$1,772
$241 – $9,531
Amerigroup 111
$1,954
$231 – $3,497
Harvard Pilgrim 22
$1,957
$390 – $7,462
Bright Health 38
$2,007
$1,348 – $5,466
Centene / Ambetter 498
$2,302
$221 – $6,539
Molina Healthcare 374
$2,385
$211 – $5,889
Coventry 55
$2,390
$301 – $7,523
Medica 77
$2,553
$271 – $5,806
Highmark 88
$2,930
$124 – $11,744
MultiPlan / PHCS network 237
$3,000
$328 – $9,391
Devoted Health 98
$3,567
$2,970 – $6,344
Healthcare Highways 33
$3,650
$3,041 – $5,524
Anthem 350
$3,763
$215 – $10,052
UPMC Health Plan 45
$3,763
$508 – $13,862
Blue Cross Blue Shield 832
$3,772
$168 – $12,757
Humana 616
$3,777
$273 – $7,140
Health Net 133
$3,924
$160 – $10,661
Kaiser Permanente 146
$4,118
$194 – $13,684
UnitedHealthcare 932
$4,243
$289 – $9,445
Aetna 827
$4,400
$429 – $9,956
SelectHealth 29
$4,882
$631 – $6,486
Security Health Plan 22
$5,205
$254 – $12,277
Oscar Health 130
$5,926
$3,549 – $8,162
Cigna 643
$6,114
$2,013 – $14,857
AvMed 26
$8,253
$4,281 – $12,418
EmblemHealth 37
$12,590
$1,772 – $46,702

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
Iowa$683
Wyoming$830
Vermont$866
Minnesota$982
New Hampshire$1,232
Michigan$1,700

Prices by city

Chicago, ILAustin, TXFort Worth, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXLos Angeles, CANew York, NYSacramento, CASan Antonio, TXBrooklyn, NYCharlotte, NCCincinnati, OHPhiladelphia, PAPittsburgh, PAPlano, TXArlington, TXBronx, NYKansas City, MOLittle Rock, ARMilwaukee, WINashville, TNOmaha, NERochester, NYSan Francisco, CA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaWisconsinNew YorkPennsylvaniaMinnesotaIllinoisNorth CarolinaColoradoMichiganLouisianaTennesseeNew JerseyIowaNebraskaIndianaMissouriWashingtonArkansasMississippiKansasVirginiaArizonaMaineGeorgiaOklahomaSouth CarolinaMassachusettsIdahoUtahKentuckyWest VirginiaAlabamaNew HampshireNew MexicoSouth DakotaWyomingOregonNevadaNorth DakotaMontanaConnecticutVermontPuerto RicoMarylandDelawareAlaska

About these prices

Based on prices published by 1424 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $3,874, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $5,824, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $4,243, a Medicare rate of about $252. Most cash prices fall between $653 and $13,315 — 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 Tonsillectomy cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1424 US hospitals is $3,874. Most hospitals fall between $653 and $13,315. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Tonsillectomy?
Medicare pays about $252. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Tonsillectomy 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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