Swallow study Cost by Hospital

Swallow study is a hospital service. Prices are from 2288 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$274median cash price · 2288 hospitals, 52 statestypically $98–$740 depending on the hospital
≈ 3.2× Medicare · On the higher sideFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$456
Cash / self-pay
$274
Insurer-negotiated
$189
Medicare pays
$85
$98$740
Median cash $274  ·  Medicare $85  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $274 — 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 $456 list price could save about $182 (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 $41 ★ 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 September 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: $274; Medicare pays $85.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Geisinger 60
$62
$51 – $352
AmeriHealth 240
$67
$37 – $317
Univera 14
$72
$58 – $101
Tricare / VA 402
$74
$62 – $196
Medicaid 306
$75
$38 – $317
Medicare 523
$78
$62 – $236
Highmark 113
$84
$57 – $377
Devoted Health 205
$85
$60 – $171
Centene / Ambetter 708
$87
$49 – $205
Amerigroup 154
$89
$57 – $273
Independent Health 45
$90
$65 – $184
Molina Healthcare 527
$90
$51 – $243
Humana 952
$91
$63 – $433
Bright Health 47
$104
$87 – $481
Priority Health 57
$135
$56 – $377
MVP Health Care 80
$143
$67 – $361
UCare 62
$146
$68 – $384
UPMC Health Plan 78
$154
$58 – $404
Oscar Health 213
$160
$81 – $384
Anthem 510
$172
$64 – $474
UnitedHealthcare 1409
$176
$62 – $445
SelectHealth 42
$191
$81 – $437
Kaiser Permanente 161
$197
$64 – $576
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1213
$208
$71 – $534
Aetna 1299
$216
$68 – $553
AvMed 61
$231
$92 – $578
Healthcare Highways 36
$237
$129 – $434
Health Net 268
$240
$62 – $811
Medica 236
$244
$88 – $414
EmblemHealth 56
$256
$83 – $18,105
Security Health Plan 59
$263
$81 – $449
Harvard Pilgrim 46
$264
$115 – $420
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 134
$266
$110 – $658
HealthPartners 258
$266
$59 – $579
Sanford Health Plan 65
$268
$82 – $405
Cigna 1067
$272
$83 – $605
Coventry 146
$370
$80 – $613
MultiPlan / PHCS network 840
$377
$180 – $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
Rhode Island$112
Alabama$115
Tennessee$128
Puerto Rico$129
Mississippi$142
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 2288 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $274, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $456, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $189, a Medicare rate of about $85. Most cash prices fall between $98 and $740 — 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 2288 US hospitals is $274. Most hospitals fall between $98 and $740. 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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