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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

Bone Density Test Cost in Iowa (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a bone density test cost in Iowa?

You could pay $113 or $362 for the same bone density test in Iowa - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 105 reporting hospitals is $248. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

Once you have a bill or an appointment on the calendar, CostKits can help you keep it all organized.

Where bone density test costs vary in Iowa

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby imaging centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

What you pay for a bone density test depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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Cheapest Bone Density Test Providers in Iowa

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs median ($248)
1 FLOYD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL COMMISSION IA $89 $159 below
2 Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge, IA $90 $158 below
3 Trinity Medical Center Bettendorf, IA $91 $157 below
4 Unity Healthcare Muscatine, IA $91 $157 below
5 Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA $91 $157 below
6 St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA $93 $155 below
7 The Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA $93 $155 below
8 State University of Iowa Iowa City, IA $95 $153 below

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Before you book: three questions that change the price

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost →  ·  When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →

Quick take

  • FLOYD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL COMMISSION is the lowest-cost option at $89 - $159 below the median posted price ($248), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $248, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
Bone density test prices by coverage in Iowa, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$107 to $107$107
With insurance (commercial, average)53$77 to $490$238
Without insurance (cash price)108$87 to $524$248
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield18$21 to $318$160
UnitedHealthcare39$48 to $474$259
Aetna35$63 to $460$236
Cigna20$93 to $508$250

Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.

How much does a bone density test cost with Medicare in Iowa?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for bone density test is about $107 to $107 (typically near $107). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $21 on a $107 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.

How much does a bone density test cost with insurance in Iowa?

Across 53 Iowa hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for bone density test average $77 to $490 per hospital, with a median near $238. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.

Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.

How much does a bone density test cost without insurance in Iowa?

Cash (self-pay) prices for bone density test at 108 Iowa hospitals range from $87 to $524, with a median of $248. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.

Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.

How much does a bone density test cost with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Iowa?

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for bone density test at 18 Iowa hospitals range from $21 to $318, with a median near $160. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.

Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.

How much does a bone density test cost with UnitedHealthcare in Iowa?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for bone density test at 39 Iowa hospitals range from $48 to $474, with a median near $259. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a bone density test cost with Aetna in Iowa?

Aetna negotiated rates for bone density test at 35 Iowa hospitals range from $63 to $460, with a median near $236. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does a bone density test cost with Cigna in Iowa?

Cigna negotiated rates for bone density test at 20 Iowa hospitals range from $93 to $508, with a median near $250. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How where you go changes what you pay for bone density test

The same bone density test bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient
$100–$1,335
  • Facility fee $41–$1,119
  • Professional fee $59–$216

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$303–$1,335
  • Facility fee $244–$1,119
  • Professional fee $59–$216

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Iowa's hospital market is dominated by UnityPoint Health and MercyOne (CommonSpirit), with relatively limited inter-system competition in most markets. Des Moines prices run below national averages, but facility fees at affiliated hospital systems can add substantially to the base service rates. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is the primary academic referral center.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (1) report prices above $846, including OTTUMWA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER at $1,119, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $245 versus $363 inpatient (about 1.5× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$248
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$50
Out-of-network provider $546+

Frequently asked questions: bone density test costs in Iowa

How much does a bone density test cost in Iowa?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $90, with most facilities between $54 and $117 (based on 105 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Iowa hospitals run $87–$524; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get a bone density test in Iowa?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Iowa data is FLOYD COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL COMMISSION at about $89. By metro, Des Moines has the lowest median ($91). Independent imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is a bone density test so much cheaper at some Iowa hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 2.2× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Iowa, the median cash (self-pay) price is $248 versus a median negotiated rate of $238 - about 1× higher. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a bone density test in Iowa?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

Before you book

Other procedures in Iowa

Bone Density Test, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

Other Procedure Costs in Iowa

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Heart and cardiac tests

Sleep and breathing tests

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Bone, joint and pain

General surgery

Lab tests

Ear, nose and throat

Urology and women's health

Eye care

Infusions

Emergency care

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About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA

Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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