Cholecystectomy Cost in South Carolina (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a cholecystectomy cost in South Carolina?
For a commercially insured patient, a cholecystectomy in South Carolina typically runs $6,376–$9,531 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 28 hospitals is $5,211. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.
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Where cholecystectomy costs vary in South Carolina
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.
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Cheapest Cholecystectomy Providers in South Carolina
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton Head Hospital | Hilton Head Island, SC | $1,569 | -$3,642 |
| 2 | Coastal Carolina Hospital | Hardeeville, SC | $1,569 | -$3,642 |
| 3 | East Cooper Medical Center | Mt Pleasant, SC | $1,569 | -$3,642 |
| 4 | McLeod Health | SC | $2,910 | -$2,301 |
| 5 | PRISMA HEALTH TUOMEY HOSPITAL | Sumter, SC | $4,941 | -$270 |
| 6 | PRISMA HEALTH HILLCREST HOSPITAL | Simpsonville, SC | $4,976 | -$235 |
| 7 | PRISMA HEALTH GREER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Greer, SC | $4,976 | -$235 |
| 8 | PRISMA HEALTH PATEWOOD HOSPITAL | Greenville, SC | $4,976 | -$235 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Quick take
- Hilton Head Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $1,569 - $3,642 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $5,304, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Freestanding ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are often 30-60% cheaper than hospital outpatient departments for the same procedure and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor if one is an option.
How where you go changes what you pay for cholecystectomy
The same cholecystectomy 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.
- Facility fee $312–$25,000
- Professional fee $980–$5,380
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- Facility fee $344–$24,695
- Professional fee $980–$5,380
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
Prisma Health (formed from Palmetto Health and Greenville Health System) and Roper St. Francis are the two largest health systems, anchoring the Midlands and Lowcountry respectively. South Carolina's delayed Medicaid expansion maintained a higher uninsured population for years, influencing charity care structures and cash price policies at many facilities. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is one of the most common ambulatory surgeries in the US, and facility type is the single biggest cost lever - ambulatory surgery centers charge 40–60% less than hospital outpatient departments for identical outcomes. Most commercial payers require prior authorization, and the surgeon and anesthesiologist bill separately from the facility, so confirming all three providers are in-network prevents unexpected out-of-network charges.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (6) report prices above $10,773, including McLeod Health at $25,000, 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 $5,211 versus $1,638 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.
On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$7,543 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$1,509 |
| Out-of-network provider | $16,595+ |
Frequently asked questions: cholecystectomy costs in South Carolina
How much does a cholecystectomy cost in South Carolina?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $822, with most facilities between $452 and $4,593 (based on 29 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $312 to $25,316 across all 28 South Carolina hospitals that publish prices. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get a cholecystectomy in South Carolina?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our South Carolina data is Beaufort Memorial Hospital in Beaufort at about $312. By metro, Greenville has the lowest median ($4,996). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and 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 cholecystectomy so much cheaper at some South Carolina hospitals?
Prices vary up to 81.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In South Carolina, the median cash (self-pay) price is $5,304 versus a median negotiated rate of $822 - about 6.5× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 cholecystectomy in South Carolina?
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
- How to read your medical bill
- How to stop medical bill problems before they start
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read an EOB line by line
Other procedures in South Carolina
Cholecystectomy, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
ASC vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ASCs or independent centers for the same cholecystectomy - same outcome, very different bill. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
What's on your bill
A cholecystectomy involves multiple providers who bill separately - typically Facility Fee, Surgeon Professional Fee, Anesthesia. Check each line item against your Explanation of Benefits to catch billing errors.
Cost by type
Which type your doctor orders for this cholecystectomy changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
What to ask before you book
Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for cholecystectomy before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
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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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