Ultrasound Cost - Buyer Experiences and Price Information

I had an accidental lapse in insurance when I got my pelvic ultrasound so I had to pay the cash rates. The rate was $1100 and some change and they gave me a 20% discount (woohoo-not) so I ended up paying over $800.00. Still way too much for an ultrasound.
Upon receiving an EOB for other services I noted that SCRMC billed services are higher than other area clinics, however, they're nicer. The billing department will fill you in on cash rates for specific services (you need to know what exactly you're getting) if you call.

wife has had MVP all her life, finally decided to get it checked for the first time since she was 15, big mistake, $2688.05 billed, we have to pay $1092.16 for tests that literally told us nothing. Planning to dispute but not optimistic about getting anywhere.

Women's Diagnostic Center at Longmont United Hosptial charged 765.00 for a simple breast ultrasound after a suspicious mamogram. Insurance wouldn't pay, as a $2000.00 deductible had to be met first. Outrageous!

Prenatal ultrasound in SF East Bay Area is over $400 w/no insurance, and if you have insurance then it depends on your co-pay. With our insurance its a $99 copay.

I work in the medical field, but have choosen to have no insurance, because the increased cost was more then what health care I use. Just found a lump in my L breast. Set-up appointments with the local hospital, and tried to set-up a payment plan. They would not give me a cost for the mammogram or US. They said they could not set-up the account till after the cost have been incurred. Hmmmm......smell fishy? From all the responders post here it looks like my US could be $280 to $3000. I will keep you posted, but I think we as consumers should be told straight-up what the cost of test are going to be. It is part of the patient's rights to know. I will keep everyone posted on what becomes of this adventure.

went to my cardiologist for yearly check up and was requested to have a sonogram in his interest as to my 81 year old mild heart valve condition. Never explained a co-payment even though it is small, and thought that it would be covered by medicare and my $35 doctor visit copayment $20 the bill was $1,725 to medicare. you think they would have been happy to cover the mesily $20 for them , but is a dent in my retirement at my age and lack of funds for this sort of greed of health care. darn if i will go back for any analitical procedure requested by any doctor that benefits him, and should have paid for it himself for this type of information, if he wants to ride the medical train then he should pay the ticket.

Wow. I just recieved the bill from the hospital this week for 3 ultrasounds. I have been having pain in my right pelvic region so my doctor ordered all 3. $3,400!! That's just unbelievable. Hopefully my insurance will cover all of it. Still waiting to get the paperwork to see how much it covers

Blue Cross covered the 1st ultrasound for dating the birth and verifying life. That one was $309. No wonder they pay 100% for the 1st one. This US was on the belly and a transvaginal to measure cervical length. Tech fees: $829. Doc fees (to read them, even tho the tech told us everything as she worked): $431. I owe 315 after insurance, which isn't as bad as the $1260 sticker shock, but STILL. ugh.

During pregnancy there is 1 free ultrasound and all the medically necessary ultrasounds covered by insurance (Blue cross blue shield). There is one small $30 copay for the entire pregnancy and a $100/day charge for the hospital to a maximum 5 days. The most out of pocket is $530 for medically necessary tests and imaging. If the patient wants to look at the fetus, then there will be a charge.
It's all a matter of the premiums everyone is willing to pay. We are on the maximum HMO offered through our workplace.

I know it probably won't be helpful to figure out the cost of an ultrasound here in the US. But I just had to write a comment for this. I am german citizen, but now live in the States, my first son was still born in germany and there no matter if you have a job or not, you always have health care insurance. I had 16 ultrasounds done during my pregnancy, which was a little more then normal since I had a complicated pregnancy. But even the normal procedures are 1 ultrasound every month, until the 7th month then every two weeks and after the 8th month every week. I just think that something as important as an ultrasound for a pregnancy should never be as expensive as I have read along these comments. It is not only for the mother but also to assure your child is doing ok. Since I have had a pretty difficult pregnancy and birth, and after seeing how conditions are in other countries, I have decided to definetely go back to Germany in case we will have another child. I wouldn't want to imagine how much it would cost me to get ultrasounds done, if the next pregnancy would bring the same complications.

Stay away from St. Mary's in Richmond. They are unrepentant crooks

Went in for simple abdominal ultrasound where they "grease" you with gel and glide a "mouse" over your abdomen. Was in disbelief when we received the billing that showed a charge of $1192.00 for the procedure! Health insurance paid $815 and the amount due was "adjusted" (due to contracts with ins. co.) but they still wanted more money from us. Called (several calls) and demanded an ITEMIZATION TO SHOW WHY THIS PROCEDURE COST SO MUCH, & eventually they "adjusted" the amount due down to -0- due, rather than show breakdown of itemized costs! VERY SUSPICIOUS.

I nearly passed out when I got a bill for the remaining balance. $805.08 YIKES. Scan to check for fibroids due to extremely heavy periods.

I had an ultrasound to check my adominal area specially my gullbladder. Well they didnt find anything, and still I have stomach pains.

In France, you are advised to have three ultrasounds : one at 12 weeks, one at 21 and one during the 8th month.
I had my first one too early to check the neck (for signs of Trisomy 21), so I had a second ultrasound two weeks later. The cost of both were 95� together (thats 45 and 50�), but the government health aid paid me back 60, and my health insurance will pay the rest.
My 21 week ultrasound was done in a Hospital in Lyon, and I didn't up-pay anything, the hospital will get paid directly from the gov and my health insurance.
The 8 month ultrasound is paid for by the government health plan.
But what surprises me is not only the incredible fees you have to pay in the US, but the huge differences between Centers ! In France, the cost is fixed, and private clinics can ask for more, but the prices have to be listed on the wall. As an example, my OB cost 60� each visit. The usual price is 23�, in his waiting room, there's the list of prices for each type of exam he does, and how much he asks for, and how much is paid for by insurance... No surprises !
Just so you know, it's like this for all health care in France. It's probably the most important thing in our society, a shared health plan... no one get's left behind. I got operated on a few years ago, before I had health insurance. The took out my gall bladder, and I had to stay 5 days in the clinic. I was charged 118� for the whole thing.

In Qatar, an ultrasound (+3D/4D imaging) cost me only $80. The doctor even threw in a FREE DVD of the ultrasound for me. Now I'm back in the States to deliver and they are telling me that my ultrasounds here will cost me $800!!! The kicker is that they are using the exact same machine as the clinic in Qatar.

Unbelievable, so much money for 15 minutes of a follow up test to find nothing is wrong. Just as the doctor said 6 months ago. I feel robbed.

Bill was $1822. Seriously outrageous - the OB/GYN global charge for csection is only slightly more and the US lasted 30 mins. Insurance waived $1,105 of the fee and I paid the rest.

Belly ache - referred as the physician thought it was gall bladder. Facility looked like a WW1 bomb shelter resplendent with lime green lead paint. Bill= $600 for ultrasound, $225 to read it. insurance covered most of reading and $20 for the ultrasound and disallowed $40 on the bill - my tab- $540. For a procedure that took 30 minutes on a machine they probably bought used (many used ones sell for 5-10K). No wonder health care is so screwed up. I will negotiate for a max of $200 and refuse payment beyond that. Gov't analysis suggests price should be $125-200 for the procedure

I received my claim summary today and was shocked with how much the hospital billed the insurance ($724.00). The allowed cost the insurance paid was $86.68 which I feel is what it should cost. It took no more than 30 minutes with a technician.