Esophageal variceal banding Cost by Hospital

Esophageal variceal banding is an endoscopic (scope) procedure. Prices are from 1154 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,982median cash price · 1154 hospitals, 52 statestypically $404–$5,323 depending on the hospital
≈ 15.7× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,587
Cash / self-pay
$1,982
Insurer-negotiated
$2,028
Medicare pays
$126
$404$5,323
Median cash $1,982  ·  Medicare $126  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,982 — about 15.7× the Medicare rate ($126). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($252).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,587 list price could save about $1,605 (45%).

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
Titus Regional Medical Center Mount Pleasant, TX $301 $167 ★ 3/5 198 min —
CHI Health Plainview Hospital Plainview, NE $329 $376 — 92 min —
CHI Health Schuyler Schuyler, NE $333 $376 — 104 min —
Memorial Healthcare Owosso, MI $348 $1,912 ★ 3/5 181 min —
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Martinez, CA $349 — ★ 4/5 171 min —
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Bennington, VT $355 — ★ 3/5 202 min —
Ellis Hospital Schenectady, NY $356 $1,383 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Carle Health Methodist Hospital Peoria, IL $357 $427 ★ 2/5 213 min —
Trinity Rock Island Rock Island, IL $357 $445 ★ 3/5 172 min —
Unitypoint Health-Marshalltown Marshalltown, IA $357 $337 ★ 3/5 162 min —
Trinity Muscatine Muscatine, IA $357 $445 ★ 4/5 136 min —
Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge, IA $357 $445 ★ 2/5 167 min —
St Lukes Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA $357 $445 ★ 4/5 166 min —
Unitypoint Health-Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi Des Moines, IA $357 $427 ★ 3/5 182 min —
Trinity-Bettendorf Bettendorf, IA $357 $445 ★ 3/5 205 min —
Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA $357 $445 ★ 3/5 163 min —
Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA $357 $445 ★ 3/5 114 min —
St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City, IA $357 $445 ★ 2/5 174 min —
Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell, IA $357 $337 ★ 2/5 112 min —
Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa, IA $357 $268 ★ 4/5 116 min —
Hospital Pavia Caguas Caguas, PR $360 $105 — — —
Red Bud Regional Hospital Red Bud, IL $373 $640 ★ 4/5 122 min —
Deaconess Hospital Inc Evansville, IN $373 $177 ★ 2/5 186 min —
The Women's Hospital Newburgh, IN $373 $203 ★ 5/5 130 min —
Deaconess Henderson Hospital Henderson, KY $373 $373 ★ 2/5 127 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 Esophageal variceal banding

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: $1,982; Medicare pays $126.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 122
$120
$107 – $1,410
Univera 12
$143
$114 – $169
Independent Health 15
$208
$107 – $1,040
Priority Health 26
$253
$114 – $2,481
Amerigroup 108
$593
$129 – $2,024
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 37
$780
$780 – $2,928
Bright Health 36
$827
$607 – $2,644
Centene / Ambetter 403
$1,028
$162 – $3,129
Sanford Health Plan 23
$1,034
$128 – $3,359
MVP Health Care 34
$1,181
$176 – $5,043
Geisinger 29
$1,242
$282 – $4,341
AmeriHealth 104
$1,280
$204 – $5,414
Harvard Pilgrim 11
$1,335
$165 – $3,743
Medica 53
$1,351
$139 – $2,850
Tricare / VA 128
$1,396
$120 – $2,456
Molina Healthcare 337
$1,428
$126 – $3,242
HealthPartners 71
$1,670
$135 – $4,468
Highmark 52
$1,688
$177 – $4,182
Medicare 183
$1,713
$132 – $2,468
Devoted Health 91
$1,819
$136 – $2,054
UPMC Health Plan 46
$1,842
$241 – $5,229
Security Health Plan 19
$1,876
$128 – $9,443
UCare 29
$1,903
$112 – $3,357
Humana 488
$2,005
$140 – $4,116
Aetna 659
$2,114
$359 – $4,332
Coventry 31
$2,191
$146 – $3,702
UnitedHealthcare 736
$2,280
$172 – $5,344
Kaiser Permanente 116
$2,292
$209 – $6,417
Blue Cross Blue Shield 615
$2,336
$196 – $5,452
Healthcare Highways 27
$2,434
$2,129 – $3,160
MultiPlan / PHCS network 206
$2,445
$417 – $5,211
Health Net 90
$2,517
$272 – $6,075
SelectHealth 29
$2,523
$316 – $5,307
Anthem 298
$2,639
$288 – $7,485
Cigna 538
$2,808
$1,202 – $8,383
Oscar Health 130
$3,623
$2,017 – $4,768
EmblemHealth 39
$5,667
$1,040 – $15,139
AvMed 28
$8,253
$3,346 – $12,418

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
Kansas$278
Nebraska$333
Iowa$357
Indiana$373
Montana$480
Nevada$671

Prices by city

Prices by state

Does Medicare cover Esophageal variceal banding?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Esophageal variceal banding. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $126. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $25 — 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 1154 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,982, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,587, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $2,028, a Medicare rate of about $126. Most cash prices fall between $404 and $5,323 — 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 Esophageal variceal banding cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1154 US hospitals is $1,982. Most hospitals fall between $404 and $5,323. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Esophageal variceal banding?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $126). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Esophageal variceal banding?
Medicare pays about $126. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Esophageal variceal banding 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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