How Much Does Colonoscopy Cost in 2026?With & Without Insurance
Colonoscopy costs $960-$3,754 for the procedure alone without insurance. Fees such as pathology, anesthesia, and physician fees are often billed separately.
A diagnostic colonoscopy (CPT 45378) has a hospital-disclosed cash price of $960-$3,754 for the procedure itself, with a median of $1,606. Anesthesia, pathology and the doctor's fee can be billed on top. With insurance, a screening colonoscopy is often $0.
Quick Price Summary
What this price includes
- Procedure only
$960-$3,754
Middle half of 1,106 hospital-disclosed cash prices for CPT 45378 (diagnostic colonoscopy). Pathology below is the median hospital cash price per specimen for CPT 88305.
- With insurance, out of pocket
$0-$1,500
Typical copay or coinsurance after deductible for a diagnostic colonoscopy; not from our price data. In-network screening is often $0.
Often billed separately
- Pathology$170
- Anesthesia
- Physician fees
Based on published hospital and provider price-transparency disclosures, cash-pay benchmarks, and public fee schedules. Price figures last reviewed September 27, 2026.
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Real prices from our database
Not an estimate. These figures come from actual hospital-disclosed cash prices for CPT 45378 (Diagnostic colonoscopy) in FairVisitHealth's price-transparency corpus.
Median posted cash price
$1,606
Most fall between $960 and $3,754 (25th to 75th percentile)
Median of 1,106 hospital-posted cash prices. Each posted price counts once, so hospitals that post more prices carry more weight.
Facility + procedure. Anesthesia and pathology (if polyps are removed) may be billed separately.
Source: FairVisitHealth analysis of 1,106 hospital-disclosed cash prices for CPT 45378, from CMS hospital price-transparency machine-readable files. Data as of October 2026.
What is Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure where a gastroenterologist uses a flexible camera (colonoscope) to examine the entire colon and rectum. It is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening because it can both detect and remove precancerous polyps during the same procedure. Colonoscopies are performed under sedation and typically take 30-60 minutes. They are recommended starting at age 45 for average-risk adults, with repeat screening every 10 years if results are normal.
What Affects Colonoscopy Cost?
- Facility type: ambulatory surgery centers bill their own facility fee, usually lower than a hospital outpatient department's. Our price data covers hospitals only.
- Screening vs. diagnostic: with insurance, screening is usually covered in full, while diagnostic care goes through your deductible and coinsurance.
- Anesthesia type: monitored sedation is standard. Anesthesia is often billed by a separate provider.
- Biopsy and polyp removal: these change the billing code (CPT 45380 or 45385) and add pathology, which has a median hospital cash price of $170 per specimen (CPT 88305).
- Hospital and location: posted cash prices for the same code vary widely between hospitals and states.
- Bundled vs. itemized pricing: some self-pay programs quote one price for everything, others bill each part separately.
How to choose where to get Colonoscopy
The cash-pay range on this page is $960-$3,754. Before you book, use these steps to find out which setting a quote comes from and what it includes.
Step by step
- Ask your surgeon which facilities they operate at, and whether an ambulatory surgery center is an option for you.
- Ask each facility for a bundled self-pay price and a written list of what it covers: the facility, the surgeon, anesthesia, and any pathology, implants or follow-up visits. Anything not on the list can arrive as a separate bill.
- Check the hospital's own price list. Under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule, every US hospital must publish its standard charges, including its discounted cash price, and a consumer-friendly list of shoppable services. Source: CMS, hospital price transparency
- If you are uninsured or paying without insurance, ask each provider for a Good Faith Estimate. Under the No Surprises Act, providers generally must give you one when you schedule at least 3 business days ahead, or when you ask. Source: CMS, medical bill rights
- Ask about financial assistance. Tax-exempt nonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy, and you generally have at least 240 days from the first post-discharge billing statement to apply. Source: IRS, financial assistance policies
- Keep every estimate. If a provider or facility bills you at least $400 more than its Good Faith Estimate, you can start the federal patient-provider dispute process for a bill dated within the last 120 days. The fee is $25. Source: CMS, dispute a bill
Care settings compared
| Setting | How it typically bills | What to ask for | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory surgery center | A facility fee, with the surgeon and anesthesia often billed separately unless the price is a bundle. | A bundled self-pay price and a written list of what it includes. | Scheduled outpatient procedures when your surgeon considers you a good candidate. |
| Hospital outpatient department | A hospital facility charge, plus separate bills from the surgeon, anesthesia and any pathology. | The discounted cash price from the hospital's price list, and each professional group's self-pay rate. | When your health history calls for hospital backup, or your surgeon operates only there. |
General information, not medical advice. Your clinician decides which setting is safe for you.
How to Save on Colonoscopy
Get a quote from an ambulatory surgery center as well as a hospital, since surgery centers usually do not charge a hospital facility fee.
Ask for an all-inclusive cash-pay price that bundles facility, physician, anesthesia, and pathology fees.
If you're 45 or older and insured, confirm your screening colonoscopy is covered at 100% in network under ACA rules.
Ask what the price becomes if a biopsy or polyp removal is needed, before the day of the procedure.
Ask your doctor whether a stool-based test is a reasonable first screening step for your risk level.
Search FairVisitHealth for gastroenterologists and surgery centers near you. This page's price data covers hospitals only; price information for other settings may not be available.
Colonoscopy Cost by City
Local self-pay prices for colonoscopy in 33 cities, from providers in each metro area.
These are averages. Get your exact local answer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a colonoscopy cost without insurance?
Hospitals post a cash price of $960-$3,754 for a diagnostic colonoscopy (CPT 45378). That is the middle half of 1,106 hospital-disclosed cash prices in FairVisitHealth's data, with a median of $1,606. It is the price for the procedure code only. Anesthesia and pathology are often billed separately, and a biopsy or polyp removal is billed under a different code.
How much is a colonoscopy out of pocket with insurance?
A screening colonoscopy for an average-risk adult is usually $0 out of pocket with private insurance, as long as the provider is in network and the plan is not grandfathered. A diagnostic colonoscopy, done to look into symptoms, goes through your deductible and coinsurance. A general estimate is $0-$1,500 out of pocket depending on how much of your deductible you have met. That range is not from our price data. For reference, the median rate insurers pay for CPT 45378 is $282 across 84,760 insurer-negotiated rates. When we checked on September 27, 2026, the doctor's fee median was $262 and the hospital facility median was $625.
Is a screening colonoscopy free with insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private plans must cover screening colonoscopy for average-risk adults ages 45 to 75 with no cost-sharing when you use an in-network provider. Federal guidance treats polyp removal during a screening, and a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool test, as part of screening. Billing mistakes still happen, so check your statement. Medicare also covers screening colonoscopy, but when a polyp is removed, Medicare patients can owe coinsurance. That share is being phased down to zero by 2030.
What's the difference between screening and diagnostic colonoscopy?
A screening colonoscopy is routine cancer prevention for someone with no symptoms. A diagnostic colonoscopy looks into symptoms such as bleeding, pain or an abnormal test result. The procedure itself is the same. What changes is how insurance treats it: screening is usually covered in full, while diagnostic care goes through your deductible and coinsurance. Without insurance, you pay the cash price either way.
Does a biopsy or polyp removal cost more?
Usually, yes. A colonoscopy with biopsy is billed as CPT 45380, which has a median hospital-disclosed cash price of $1,650. Polyp removal with a snare is billed as CPT 45385, with a median of $1,979 across hospital-posted cash prices when we checked on September 27, 2026. Each tissue sample also goes to a pathologist. The standard tissue exam, CPT 88305, has a median hospital cash price of $170 per specimen.
Why is colonoscopy so expensive?
One colonoscopy can produce several bills: the facility, the gastroenterologist, anesthesia or sedation, and pathology if tissue is removed. Hospital outpatient departments add a facility fee. For comparison, the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule pays $378.10 for CPT 45378 in an office setting and $164.67 for the doctor's part when the procedure is done in a hospital or surgery center, where the facility is paid separately.
How can I get a cheaper colonoscopy?
Ask for one bundled cash price that covers the facility, the doctor, anesthesia and pathology, and get it in writing. Ambulatory surgery centers usually do not charge a hospital facility fee, so get a quote from one to compare. Our price data covers hospitals only, not surgery centers. Ask what happens to the price if a biopsy or polyp removal is needed.
How do I find colonoscopy prices near me?
Prices vary widely between hospitals in the same area. Use the city links on this page or search FairVisitHealth for colonoscopy to see providers near you. Searching is free. FairPass ($29/mo) shows available provider price information and contact details; a price may not be available for every result.
Are there alternatives to colonoscopy?
For average-risk screening, alternatives include stool tests such as the FIT test and stool DNA tests, and CT colonography. A positive result on any of them means you will need a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is the only option that can find and remove polyps in the same procedure. Ask your doctor which test fits your risk.
At what age should I get a colonoscopy?
The American Cancer Society recommends colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 for average-risk adults. If you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, screening may start earlier. Talk to your doctor about the right timing.
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Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Pricing information is based on publicly reported data and may not reflect your actual costs.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions. Prices shown are estimates for self-pay patients and may vary by provider, location, and individual circumstances.