Price of an Endoscopy in the USA: Costs With and Without Insurance

What is an endoscopy and when is it necessary?

Una endoscopia es la exploración de una parte del organismo mediante un instrumento con cámara e iluminación: un endoscopio. Se puede hacer en el tubo digestivo, el tracto urinario o el abdomen, dependiendo de lo que el médico necesite examinar.

La más común es la endoscopia del tracto digestivo superior, también llamada esofagogastroduodenoscopia (EGD) o gastroscopia. Sirve para diagnosticar problemas del esófago, el estómago y el duodeno.

What does the procedure involve?

The endoscope is a flexible tube with a camera and a light at the tip, which the doctor inserts through the mouth to reach the area of ​​the digestive tract requiring examination. Images are viewed in real time on a monitor as the device moves through the esophagus and the rest of the digestive tract.

The endoscope also has internal channels that allow for the introduction of additional instruments during the same procedure—for example, to take a biopsy or cauterize tissue—without the need for a second intervention.

In most cases, it is performed with some degree of sedation, and typically the patient is completely asleep during the procedure, which lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

When is an endoscopy ordered?

These are the most common reasons:

• Identify esophageal problems, such as narrowing or esophagitis.
• Evaluate stomach problems, such as gastritis, ulcers, or tumors.
• Diagnose a hiatal hernia causing gastroesophageal reflux.
• Find the cause of vomiting blood (hematemesis).
• Investigate anemia when gastrointestinal blood loss is suspected.
• Take a biopsy to identify bacterial infections.

Price of an endoscopy in the USA without insurance

The cost of an endoscopy without health insurance varies significantly depending on where you have it done and its complexity. According to updated data from 2026, the typical range is as follows:

• In an ambulatory surgery center (ASC): between $1,200 and $2,500.
• In a hospital (outpatient department): between $2,500 and $5,500.
• Promedio nacional aproximado: $2,100 a $3,000, dependiendo de la fuente y la región.

Estas cifras suelen incluir la tarifa de la instalación, pero la anestesia y cualquier estudio de patología de una biopsia normalmente se facturan por separado, y pueden agregar entre $450 y $1,400 adicionales.

An important fact: diagnostic upper endoscopy is not classified as a preventive service according to federal criteria (USPSTF), unlike colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy, which is usually covered at 100% at no cost. This means that, in most cases, your endoscopy is billed as a diagnostic procedure with cost-sharing, not free, even if you have good insurance.

Cost of an endoscopy with health insurance

With insurance, your out-of-pocket cost depends on three things: whether you have met your annual deductible, your specific plan's coinsurance percentage (which typically ranges from 10% to 40%), and whether the procedure is performed in-network or out-of-network.

As a general reference:

• With Medicare Part B: after the annual deductible, you generally pay 20% of the approved amount — in practice, this usually ends up between $100 and $300 out-of-pocket for a diagnostic endoscopy.
• With commercial insurance (Marketplace or through employment): the out-of-pocket cost varies much more, typically between $300 and $2,000, depending on whether you have already met your deductible and the specific design of your plan.

These ranges are merely a guide, as the exact figure applicable to you depends on your specific health insurance policy.

Something that can really help you: by law, if you are uninsured or choose to pay out-of-pocket, you have the right to request a written Good Faith Estimate before the procedure, under the No Surprises Act. If the final bill exceeds that estimate by $400 or more, you can dispute it within 120 days.

And remember: out-of-pocket expenses count toward your annual out-of-pocket maximum. Once you reach it, your policy covers 100% of your covered medical services for the rest of the year.