Short answer: There is no single cash price for an endoscopy. As a benchmark, Medicare's 2026 national average total for a diagnostic upper endoscopy (EGD, CPT 43235) is $607 at an ambulatory surgical center and $1,036 at a hospital outpatient department, covering facility and physician fees but not anesthesia or pathology (Medicare Procedure Price Lookup). Self-pay quotes vary widely.
An upper endoscopy, also called an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), uses a flexible camera passed through the mouth to look at the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine. This guide covers the cited Medicare benchmarks for upper endoscopy and related procedures, the separate bills that often follow, and how to get and protect a cash price.
How much is an endoscopy without insurance in 2026?
Medicare's Procedure Price Lookup lists 2026 national averages for each CPT code in two settings: ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments. These are Medicare-approved amounts, not cash prices, but they are the best free benchmark for checking a quote.
| CPT code | Procedure | Hospital outpatient total | Hospital facility fee | ASC total | ASC facility fee | Doctor fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43235 | Upper endoscopy (EGD), diagnostic | $1,036 | $926 | $607 | $497 | $110 |
| 43239 | Upper endoscopy (EGD) with biopsy | $1,049 | $926 | $620 | $497 | $123 |
| 43249 | Upper endoscopy (EGD) with esophageal balloon dilation | $2,096 | $1,960 | $1,030 | $894 | $136 |
| 45378 | Colonoscopy, diagnostic | $1,114 | $950 | $674 | $510 | $164 |
| 45380 | Colonoscopy with biopsy | $1,399 | $1,222 | $833 | $656 | $177 |
| 45385 | Colonoscopy with polyp removal (snare) | $1,445 | $1,222 | $879 | $656 | $223 |
| 91110 | Capsule endoscopy (swallowed camera) | $1,728 | $926 | $1,299 | $497 | $802 |
Source: Medicare Procedure Price Lookup, national averages based on Medicare's 2026 payments and copayments, retrieved October 7, 2026. Totals are what Medicare approves (Medicare's share plus the patient's 20 percent coinsurance), not a cash price quoted to an uninsured patient. Your local amount varies by location.
What does an endoscopy bill include?
Expect up to four separate charges. The facility fee covers the room, equipment, nursing and recovery; it is the largest part, and in Medicare's 2026 averages for a diagnostic EGD it is $497 at an ASC versus $926 at a hospital outpatient department. The gastroenterologist's fee is $110 in both settings. The Medicare totals above do not include anesthesia or sedation, which is often billed by a separate group, or pathology, which a lab bills if tissue is taken for biopsy. Ask for prices for all four before you book.
How much more does a biopsy add?
The procedure code changes when a biopsy is taken: diagnostic EGD 43235 becomes 43239. In Medicare's 2026 averages the procedure total rises only modestly, from $607 to $620 at an ASC, because the physician fee goes from $110 to $123. The bigger addition is usually the separate pathology lab bill for examining the tissue, which is not in those totals. Ask the facility which lab it uses and request that lab's self-pay price.
Is an endoscopy cheaper at a surgery center than a hospital?
At Medicare rates, yes: an ASC diagnostic EGD averages $607 versus $1,036 in a hospital outpatient department, and a diagnostic colonoscopy averages $674 versus $1,114. Self-pay prices are set by each facility, so compare written all-in quotes. A hospital may still be the right setting if you have significant heart, lung or other health conditions or complex sedation needs; that is a decision to make with your gastroenterologist.
How do I get a cash price for an endoscopy?
- Ask your doctor for the CPT code and whether a biopsy, dilation or combined colonoscopy is likely.
- Request a bundled self-pay quote and ask exactly what it includes: facility, gastroenterologist, anesthesia and pathology.
- Get separate quotes from the anesthesia group and pathology lab if they are not bundled.
- Check posted hospital prices and a local FAIR Health Consumer estimate.
- Get written good faith estimates from each provider and ask about a discount for paying in advance.
What are my rights as a self-pay patient?
Under the No Surprises Act, if you are uninsured or choose not to use insurance, a provider or facility must give you a written good faith estimate when you ask for one or when you schedule at least 3 business days ahead. If you schedule 3 to 9 business days ahead it is due within 1 business day; 10 or more business days ahead, within 3 business days; if you ask before scheduling, within 3 business days (CMS). Each estimate covers one provider or facility, so the facility, the reading doctor and any anesthesia group may each give you a separate one.
Keep the estimate. If a provider or facility bills you at least $400 more than its own estimate, you can start a patient-provider dispute within 120 calendar days of the first bill, with a $25 non-refundable fee (CMS). You cannot use that process without a written estimate, which is why asking for one before the appointment matters.
Can I get financial help with a hospital bill?
Nonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy under Section 501(r) of the tax code (IRS). Eligibility rules and discounts are set by each hospital, so ask for the policy and the application before or soon after the service. Many facilities also offer payment plans; ask whether a plan carries interest before you sign.
What about capsule endoscopy?
Capsule endoscopy (CPT 91110) uses a swallowed camera to view the small intestine. Medicare's 2026 national average total is $1,299 at an ASC and $1,728 at a hospital outpatient department, with $802 of that being the physician fee for reading the images. It answers different clinical questions than an EGD, so it is not a cheaper substitute; your gastroenterologist decides which test fits.
Related guides and doctors
Find a gastroenterologist or start with Find a Doctor. Read about conditions often evaluated with endoscopy, such as GERD, celiac disease and colon polyps, or compare imaging costs in our CT scan cost guide.