Esophageal variceal banding is an endoscopic (scope) procedure. Prices are from 1154 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
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%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | 122 |
$107 – $1,410 |
| Univera | 12 |
$114 – $169 |
| Independent Health | 15 |
$107 – $1,040 |
| Priority Health | 26 |
$114 – $2,481 |
| Amerigroup | 108 |
$129 – $2,024 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 37 |
$780 – $2,928 |
| Bright Health | 36 |
$607 – $2,644 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 403 |
$162 – $3,129 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 23 |
$128 – $3,359 |
| MVP Health Care | 34 |
$176 – $5,043 |
| Geisinger | 29 |
$282 – $4,341 |
| AmeriHealth | 104 |
$204 – $5,414 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 11 |
$165 – $3,743 |
| Medica | 53 |
$139 – $2,850 |
| Tricare / VA | 128 |
$120 – $2,456 |
| Molina Healthcare | 337 |
$126 – $3,242 |
| HealthPartners | 71 |
$135 – $4,468 |
| Highmark | 52 |
$177 – $4,182 |
| Medicare | 183 |
$132 – $2,468 |
| Devoted Health | 91 |
$136 – $2,054 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 46 |
$241 – $5,229 |
| Security Health Plan | 19 |
$128 – $9,443 |
| UCare | 29 |
$112 – $3,357 |
| Humana | 488 |
$140 – $4,116 |
| Aetna | 659 |
$359 – $4,332 |
| Coventry | 31 |
$146 – $3,702 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 736 |
$172 – $5,344 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 116 |
$209 – $6,417 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 615 |
$196 – $5,452 |
| Healthcare Highways | 27 |
$2,129 – $3,160 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 206 |
$417 – $5,211 |
| Health Net | 90 |
$272 – $6,075 |
| SelectHealth | 29 |
$316 – $5,307 |
| Anthem | 298 |
$288 – $7,485 |
| Cigna | 538 |
$1,202 – $8,383 |
| Oscar Health | 130 |
$2,017 – $4,768 |
| EmblemHealth | 39 |
$1,040 – $15,139 |
| AvMed | 28 |
$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
| State | Median 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?
Does Medicare cover Esophageal variceal banding?
What does Medicare pay for Esophageal variceal banding?
Why do Esophageal variceal banding prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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