Swallow study Cost by Hospital

Swallow study is a hospital service. Prices are from 2305 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$276median cash price · 2305 hospitals, 52 statestypically $98–$735 depending on the hospital
≈ 3.2× Medicare · On the higher sideFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$459
Cash / self-pay
$276
Insurer-negotiated
$188
Medicare pays
$85
$98$735
Median cash $276  ·  Medicare $85  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $276 — about 3.2× the Medicare rate ($85). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($170).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $459 list price could save about $183 (40%).

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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
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $43 $79 ★ 2/5 104 min —
Westfield Memorial Hospital, Inc Westfield, NY $44 $72 — 120 min —
Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg, PA $44 $73 ★ 3/5 155 min —
Forbes Hospital Monroeville, PA $44 $73 ★ 3/5 261 min —
Lakeland Regional Medical Center Lakeland, FL $44 $1,150 ★ 1/5 155 min —
Grove City Medical Center Grove City, PA $46 $72 ★ 4/5 150 min —
Clinch Memorial Hospital Homerville, GA $47 $90 — 94 min —
Allegheny Valley Hospital Natrona, PA $48 $73 ★ 4/5 203 min —
Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $48 $73 ★ 3/5 274 min —
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $49 $164 ★ 4/5 260 min —
Caldwell Memorial Hospital Lenoir, NC $49 $69 ★ 3/5 205 min —
Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Murfreesboro, TN $50 $111 ★ 3/5 173 min —
Usa Health HCA Providence Hospital, Llc Mobile, AL $50 $84 ★ 3/5 212 min —
Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield and Novi Southfield, MI $50 $84 ★ 4/5 196 min —
Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital Rochester, MI $50 $84 ★ 3/5 187 min —
Ascension Providence Waco, TX $50 $84 ★ 2/5 223 min —
Ahn Wexford Hospital Wexford, PA $52 $76 ★ 5/5 184 min —
Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner Kenner, LA $52 $115 ★ 4/5 147 min —
Crescent Medical Center Lancaster Lancaster, TX $53 $82 ★ 2/5 160 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $53 $113 — 130 min —
West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA $54 $76 ★ 3/5 208 min —
Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN $55 $105 ★ 3/5 259 min —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $55 $79 ★ 2/5 203 min —
Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL $55 $56 ★ 3/5 155 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia Arkadelphia, AR $55 $134 — 94 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 Swallow study

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: $276; Medicare pays $85.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Geisinger 60
$62
$51 – $352
AmeriHealth 241
$67
$37 – $318
Univera 14
$72
$58 – $101
Tricare / VA 406
$74
$62 – $195
Medicaid 310
$75
$38 – $317
Medicare 528
$78
$61 – $236
Highmark 117
$84
$57 – $376
Devoted Health 209
$85
$60 – $188
Centene / Ambetter 735
$87
$50 – $205
Amerigroup 156
$89
$57 – $273
Independent Health 45
$90
$65 – $184
Molina Healthcare 531
$90
$53 – $236
Humana 966
$91
$63 – $438
Bright Health 48
$104
$87 – $469
Priority Health 56
$135
$56 – $377
MVP Health Care 81
$143
$67 – $371
UCare 63
$146
$68 – $382
UPMC Health Plan 81
$154
$58 – $403
Oscar Health 228
$161
$81 – $373
UnitedHealthcare 1440
$178
$62 – $444
Anthem 530
$182
$64 – $465
SelectHealth 42
$191
$81 – $437
Kaiser Permanente 162
$195
$64 – $575
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1221
$208
$71 – $529
Aetna 1323
$215
$67 – $553
EmblemHealth 69
$235
$83 – $17,559
Healthcare Highways 36
$237
$129 – $434
Health Net 270
$240
$62 – $804
Medica 238
$244
$88 – $414
AvMed 63
$263
$94 – $540
Security Health Plan 59
$263
$81 – $449
Harvard Pilgrim 46
$264
$115 – $420
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 135
$265
$110 – $648
Sanford Health Plan 67
$268
$82 – $405
HealthPartners 259
$268
$59 – $579
Cigna 1088
$270
$82 – $607
Coventry 150
$370
$80 – $592
MultiPlan / PHCS network 855
$382
$182 – $821

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
Tennessee$105
Rhode Island$112
Alabama$115
Puerto Rico$129
Mississippi$144
Arkansas$153

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.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Steven Asofsky, M.A.Speech Language PathologistBabylon, NY308
Stamatela Balou, PHD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SSpeech Language PathologistNew York, NY303
William Murdock, MSSpeech Language PathologistJacksonville, FL253
Jessica Gregor, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-SSpeech Language PathologistScottsdale, AZ252
Karen Mcnett, SLPSpeech Language PathologistScottsdale, AZ250
John Dubois, CCC-SLPSpeech Language PathologistDearborn, MI226
Sheena Rismany, CCC-SLPSpeech Language PathologistGreat Neck, NY213
Lyndsay Barrera, MS, CCC-SLPSpeech Language PathologistJacksonville, FL209
Julia Meverden, MS CCC-SLPSpeech Language PathologistRochester, MN199
Anne Kulinski, CCC-SLPSpeech Language PathologistRochester, MN194
Mallory RiggsSpeech Language PathologistRochester, MN190
Kate Donovan, CCC-SLPSpeech Language PathologistKew Gardens, NY179

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Swallow study?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Swallow study. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $85. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $17 — 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 2305 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $276, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $459, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $188, a Medicare rate of about $85. Most cash prices fall between $98 and $735 — 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 Swallow study cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2305 US hospitals is $276. Most hospitals fall between $98 and $735. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Swallow study?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $85). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Swallow study?
Medicare pays about $85. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Swallow study 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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