Thyroid ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2362 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $529 — about 4.9× the Medicare rate ($109). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($217).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $879 list price could save about $350 (40%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | $82 | $118 | ★ 4/5 | 179 min | 14.6% |
| Heritage Valley Beaver | Beaver, PA | $82 | $102 | ★ 3/5 | 185 min | 14.5% |
| Heritage Valley Sewickley | Sewickley, PA | $82 | $102 | ★ 4/5 | 132 min | 15.1% |
| Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas | Galena, KS | $83 | $102 | — | — | 14.3% |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | $83 | $101 | ★ 4/5 | 217 min | 15.1% |
| Mercy Hospital Southeast | Cape Girardeau, MO | $83 | $102 | ★ 2/5 | 160 min | 15.1% |
| Banner Heart Hospital | Mesa, AZ | $83 | $139 | ★ 2/5 | — | 14.4% |
| Ochsner American Legion Hospital | Jennings, LA | $84 | $117 | ★ 2/5 | 104 min | 15.3% |
| Ochsner St Mary | Morgan City, LA | $84 | $104 | ★ 2/5 | 81 min | 15.4% |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent | Shreveport, LA | $84 | $104 | ★ 2/5 | — | — |
| Beckley ARH Hospital | Beckley, WV | $86 | $92 | ★ 3/5 | 218 min | 14.9% |
| Slidell Memorial Hospital | Slidell, LA | $86 | $97 | ★ 2/5 | 203 min | 16.0% |
| Cordova Community Medical Center | Cordova, AK | $87 | — | — | 127 min | — |
| Banner Boswell Medical Center | Sun City, AZ | $87 | $154 | ★ 3/5 | 227 min | 14.3% |
| Bassett Healthcare | Cooperstown, NY | $88 | $38 | ★ 2/5 | 199 min | 15.6% |
| Tift Regional Medical Center | Tifton, GA | $91 | $140 | ★ 3/5 | 252 min | 15.7% |
| Southwell Medical, a Campus of Trmc | Adel, GA | $91 | $112 | — | — | 15.0% |
| Cox Barton County Hospital | Lamar, MO | $93 | $547 | — | 86 min | 14.8% |
| Prosser Memorial Hospital | Prosser, WA | $93 | $40 | ★ 3/5 | 126 min | 15.2% |
| Riverview Regional Medical Center | Gadsden, AL | $93 | $93 | ★ 3/5 | 160 min | 15.7% |
| University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson | Carson City, MI | $96 | $107 | ★ 4/5 | 95 min | 15.2% |
| Edward W Sparrow Hospital | Lansing, MI | $96 | $106 | ★ 3/5 | 301 min | 13.6% |
| University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton | Saint Johns, MI | $96 | $130 | ★ 4/5 | 183 min | 15.0% |
| University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton | Charlotte, MI | $96 | $169 | ★ 1/5 | 152 min | 15.0% |
| Sparrow Ionia Hospital | Ionia, MI | $96 | $130 | ★ 2/5 | 158 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 August 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 Thyroid ultrasound
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: $529; Medicare pays $109.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | 362 |
$17 – $234 |
| Independent Health | 37 |
$28 – $214 |
| Univera | 16 |
$23 – $130 |
| Medicare | 590 |
$26 – $238 |
| Amerigroup | 174 |
$40 – $236 |
| Tricare / VA | 433 |
$32 – $502 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$37 – $481 |
| Molina Healthcare | 583 |
$30 – $359 |
| Priority Health | 61 |
$39 – $643 |
| Devoted Health | 178 |
$98 – $319 |
| Highmark | 132 |
$39 – $253 |
| Anthem | 590 |
$42 – $599 |
| AmeriHealth | 238 |
$37 – $424 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 804 |
$50 – $463 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 109 |
$66 – $467 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1563 |
$56 – $763 |
| Humana | 1086 |
$74 – $711 |
| MVP Health Care | 88 |
$30 – $529 |
| SelectHealth | 49 |
$59 – $534 |
| UCare | 79 |
$59 – $560 |
| EmblemHealth | 67 |
$30 – $408 |
| Oscar Health | 161 |
$64 – $520 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1316 |
$45 – $686 |
| Bright Health | 41 |
$108 – $1,164 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 149 |
$85 – $831 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 240 |
$70 – $931 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 64 |
$59 – $709 |
| HealthPartners | 289 |
$58 – $900 |
| Aetna | 1454 |
$72 – $909 |
| Health Net | 327 |
$70 – $1,582 |
| Cigna | 1199 |
$102 – $1,015 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 80 |
$99 – $814 |
| Medica | 260 |
$84 – $782 |
| Security Health Plan | 65 |
$59 – $750 |
| Healthcare Highways | 50 |
$162 – $821 |
| Coventry | 161 |
$100 – $1,244 |
| AvMed | 66 |
$177 – $1,152 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 905 |
$136 – $1,709 |
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
| State | Median cash |
|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | $63 |
| Tennessee | $211 |
| Mississippi | $211 |
| Arkansas | $211 |
| Rhode Island | $230 |
| New Jersey | $236 |
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.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Bassis, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Lindenhurst, NY | 4,503 |
| Jonathan Rubin, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Wilmington, DE | 2,538 |
| James Sluss, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Winchester, VA | 2,214 |
| Saul Ruben, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Las Vegas, NV | 1,867 |
| Nicholas Dzebolo, MD | Interventional Radiology | Los Angeles, CA | 1,533 |
| Gerald Minkowitz, M.D. | Pathology | Brooklyn, NY | 1,459 |
| John Melnick, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | New York, NY | 1,446 |
| Patrick Alore, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Encino, CA | 1,334 |
| David Bjelica, M.D. | Endocrinology | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1,254 |
| Jason Sinner, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Burbank, CA | 1,204 |
| Ghobad Azizi, M.D. | Internal Medicine | Wilmington, NC | 1,115 |
| Adam Landskowsky, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Smithtown, NY | 1,049 |
Does Medicare cover Thyroid ultrasound?
Yes — Medicare generally covers Thyroid ultrasound. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $109. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $22 — 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 2362 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $529, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $879, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $216, a Medicare rate of about $109. Most cash prices fall between $170 and $1,365 — 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 Thyroid ultrasound cost without insurance?
Does Medicare cover Thyroid ultrasound?
What does Medicare pay for Thyroid ultrasound?
Why do Thyroid ultrasound prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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