EKG / ECG (tracing only) Cost by Hospital

EKG / ECG (tracing only) is a heart-related test or procedure. Prices are from 2399 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$185median cash price · 2399 hospitals, 52 statestypically $67–$499 depending on the hospital
≈ 26.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$326
Cash / self-pay
$185
Insurer-negotiated
$100
Medicare pays
$7
$67$499
Median cash $185  ·  Medicare $7  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $185 — about 26.3× the Medicare rate ($7). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($14).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $326 list price could save about $141 (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
Edward W Sparrow Hospital Lansing, MI $28 $59 ★ 3/5 299 min —
Hills & Dales General Hospital Cass City, MI $29 $113 ★ 4/5 91 min —
East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA $29 $286 ★ 2/5 157 min —
Northern Maine Medical Center Fort Kent, ME $30 $109 — 140 min —
Umd Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute Baltimore, MD $30 — — — —
University of Kansas Hospital Kansas City, KS $31 $116 ★ 5/5 307 min —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $32 $62 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Brattleboro Retreat Brattleboro, VT $32 — — — —
San Juan Hospital Monticello, UT $32 $41 — 128 min —
St Charles Parish Hospital Luling, LA $32 $55 — 114 min —
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $32 $33 ★ 5/5 228 min —
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Inc Annapolis, MD $32 — ★ 3/5 245 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Springs County Malvern, AR $32 $59 — 100 min —
Baptist Health-Van Buren Van Buren, AR $33 $60 — 71 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock North Little Rock, AR $33 $58 ★ 1/5 186 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County Monticello, AR $33 $60 ★ 2/5 122 min —
Baptist Health-Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR $33 $60 ★ 2/5 124 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart Stuttgart, AR $33 $61 ★ 3/5 106 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock Little Rock, AR $33 $58 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway Conway, AR $33 $58 ★ 2/5 145 min —
Meritus Medical Center Hagerstown, MD $33 — ★ 3/5 250 min —
Sakakawea Medical Center-CAH Hazen, ND $34 $19 — 112 min —
University of Michigan Health-West Wyoming, MI $34 $32 ★ 4/5 188 min —
Holy Cross Germantown Hospital Germantown, MD $34 $34 ★ 1/5 233 min —
Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital Kaplan, LA $35 $51 — 90 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 EKG / ECG (tracing only)

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: $185; Medicare pays $7.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$8
$5 – $9
Medicaid 369
$24
$7 – $114
Amerigroup 162
$53
$8 – $145
Highmark 136
$56
$7 – $212
Independent Health 33
$57
$7 – $113
Tricare / VA 438
$59
$6 – $332
SelectHealth 44
$60
$14 – $289
Geisinger 67
$60
$12 – $307
Molina Healthcare 568
$60
$8 – $169
Devoted Health 179
$61
$54 – $105
Centene / Ambetter 846
$62
$11 – $158
UPMC Health Plan 109
$62
$14 – $285
Medicare 600
$62
$6 – $146
Priority Health 60
$62
$20 – $220
Medica 259
$63
$14 – $274
Humana 1118
$63
$15 – $290
AmeriHealth 234
$66
$11 – $283
MVP Health Care 86
$74
$8 – $220
Anthem 590
$76
$16 – $363
EmblemHealth 78
$85
$8 – $465
Kaiser Permanente 210
$90
$21 – $431
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1352
$102
$15 – $472
UCare 72
$105
$58 – $199
HealthPartners 286
$107
$23 – $289
UnitedHealthcare 1609
$114
$17 – $422
Oscar Health 241
$114
$12 – $263
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 151
$116
$44 – $501
Bright Health 58
$118
$79 – $420
Sanford Health Plan 79
$128
$58 – $224
Aetna 1507
$132
$17 – $430
Health Net 322
$136
$26 – $824
Security Health Plan 62
$157
$58 – $202
Harvard Pilgrim 51
$157
$20 – $291
Cigna 1193
$193
$47 – $462
Healthcare Highways 51
$235
$106 – $402
AvMed 63
$242
$68 – $521
Coventry 164
$254
$60 – $439
MultiPlan / PHCS network 930
$257
$95 – $585

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
Maryland$58
Arkansas$72
Tennessee$73
New Jersey$77
Mississippi$90
Louisiana$98

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PADallas, TXBaltimore, MDAustin, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABrooklyn, NYOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHMilwaukee, WINashville, TNOmaha, NEPlano, TXSaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALBoston, MA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaWisconsinPennsylvaniaNew YorkIllinoisMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeNebraskaColoradoIowaMissouriOklahomaKentuckyArkansasKansasSouth DakotaVirginiaNew JerseyIndianaWashingtonArizonaMarylandMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaAlabamaMaineNorth DakotaSouth CarolinaMontanaOregonIdahoNew HampshireUtahConnecticutNevadaNew MexicoHawaiiWyomingPuerto RicoVermontRhode IslandDelawareAlaskaWashington DC

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.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Ricardo Cigarroa, M.D.Internal MedicineLaredo, TX2,089
Angela Simmons, APNNurse PractitionerLittle Rock, AR2,052
Christopher Douglas, M.D.Interventional CardiologyHattiesburg, MS1,892
Jose Mathew, MDCardiologyLeesville, LA1,519
Vachaspathi Palakodeti, MDCardiologyImperial, CA1,462
Nathaniel Berg, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTamuning, GU1,420
Chris Cianci, D.O.Interventional CardiologyDenton, TX1,396
Carlos Cigarroa, MDCardiologyLaredo, TX1,248
Gary Fazio, M.D.Interventional CardiologyDenton, TX1,113
Courtney House, APRNNurse PractitionerLittle Rock, AR1,032
Abdur Rahman Fuzail AhmadCardiologySpringfield, IL927
Fotini Chalkias, M.D.CardiologyAustin, TX904

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover EKG / ECG (tracing only)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers EKG / ECG (tracing only). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $7. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $1 — 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 2399 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $185, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $326, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $100, a Medicare rate of about $7. Most cash prices fall between $67 and $499 — 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 EKG / ECG (tracing only) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2399 US hospitals is $185. Most hospitals fall between $67 and $499. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover EKG / ECG (tracing only)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $7). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for EKG / ECG (tracing only)?
Medicare pays about $7. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do EKG / ECG (tracing only) 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.

Related Heart & Cardiac

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