Cholecystectomy Cost in Wisconsin (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a cholecystectomy cost in Wisconsin?

A typical cholecystectomy in Wisconsin costs $2,980–$9,286 for a commercially insured patient, including facility and physician fees. The median reported facility price across 95 hospitals is $2,331. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Advocate Aurora Health (formed in the Illinois-Wisconsin merger) and Ascension Wisconsin are the dominant systems in the Milwaukee market, while UW Health anchors the Madison market. Wisconsin's hospital market is moderately competitive in major metros but increasingly concentrated in rural areas. Prices tend to run near or slightly below the Midwest median.

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.

Location within the state matters too: Stevens Point has the lowest metro median ($1,540) while Green Bay runs highest ($8,629) — a 5.6× difference inside Wisconsin alone. The same cholecystectomy that costs $363 at OakLeaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona reaches $40,697 at Beloit Memorial Hospital in Beloit — a 112.1× gap across the 95 Wisconsin hospitals reporting prices. A typical Wisconsin facility lands around $2,331 — most sit in the $1,546–$5,554 band. There's a gap between the sticker and the real price here: a median cash quote of $3,234 sits above the $2,366 insurers negotiate.

Where cholecystectomy costs vary in Wisconsin

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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The facility you choose matters more than almost anything else — the same procedure, same quality, same state can cost 5× more at one hospital versus the one down the road.

→ Compare all procedure costs   → Cholecystectomy costs nationwide

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Lower-cost options in Wisconsin start around $1,546 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $1,546 and $5,872. A smaller group reports prices above that — often academic medical centers or high-cost markets.

If you're comparing specific hospitals, the lowest self-pay rates reported in this dataset include: Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson (cash price from $1,504); Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville (cash price from $1,512); ST MARY'S HOSPITAL in Green Bay (cash price from $1,517). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Wisconsin Cholecystectomy prices by facility

All prices below come from hospital chargemasters — the official price lists each hospital must publish under federal law. Gross charge is the undiscounted list price; cash price is the self-pay rate; negotiated range covers the spread across insurance contracts.

Source: CMS hospital price transparency machine-readable files. vs Median = savings or premium relative to the state median price. Gross Charge = undiscounted list price for reference.

Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go →

Compare other procedures in Wisconsin:

• Appendectomy Cost in Wisconsin
• Cataract Surgery Cost in Wisconsin

Where you can save the most on cholecystectomy in Wisconsin

These facilities have the lowest declared prices relative to the state median — they represent the best opportunities to reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Most expensive cholecystectomy providers in Wisconsin

These facilities report the highest prices for this procedure. Academic medical centers and specialty hospitals often top this list — their gross charges rarely reflect what anyone actually pays, but understanding the spread helps you negotiate.

Why prices vary this much

A small number of hospitals (1) report very high prices above $12,361, which drives much of the overall price range. Excluding these, most facilities cluster in a significantly tighter band.

Setting drives much of the gap in Wisconsin: the median outpatient price is $2,296 versus $1,645 inpatient, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the Wisconsin facilities reporting prices, 31 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $1,546) while 32 sit in a high-cost tier ($5,872 and up) — a lower-priced option almost always exists within the same state.

Among the cities with the most reporting hospitals, Green Bay has a median reported price of $8,629 across 6 facilities, while facilities in Stevens Point tend to report lower prices (median: $1,540). City-level variation within a state often reflects local market structure, not procedure complexity.

The spread comes from how each hospital sets its chargemaster (the undiscounted list price), what cash discounts it applies, and what rates it negotiates with each insurer. Facility classification matters too — a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. Understanding these mechanics is the first step to paying less.

Learn more:
→ Allowed amount vs negotiated rate — what your EOB is really saying
→ How to read your medical bill
→ Why hospital prices are so hard to find — and what to do about it

How insurance changes what you actually pay

Hospital list prices are only part of the picture. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility is in-network, and whether your plan classifies the visit as outpatient or inpatient. A lower gross charge doesn't guarantee a lower bill if the facility is out-of-network or adds facility fees your plan doesn't cover.

Understand your cost before you go:
→ Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
→ EOB vs medical bill — complete guide
→ How to stop medical bill problems before they start (in-network vs out-of-network)

Cholecystectomy Costs by Metro Area in Wisconsin

Prices vary across Wisconsin metro areas based on local hospital competition, wage adjustments, and facility mix. Explore detailed facility price data for each metro area:

• Cholecystectomy Cost in Eau Claire, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Fond Du Lac, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Green Bay, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Janesville, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Madison, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Milwaukee, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Oshkosh, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Racine, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Sheboygan, WI
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Wausau, WI

Compare cholecystectomy costs in nearby states

• New York
• California
• Texas
• Florida

Frequently asked questions: cholecystectomy costs in Wisconsin

How much does a cholecystectomy cost in Wisconsin?

Across 95 Wisconsin hospitals that publish prices, a cholecystectomy ranges from $363 to $40,697, with a median of $2,331. Most facilities fall between $1,546 and $5,554. 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 Wisconsin?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Wisconsin data is EDGERTON HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICES in Edgerton at about $55. By metro, Stevens Point has the lowest median ($1,540). 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 Wisconsin hospitals?

Prices vary up to 112.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Wisconsin, the median cash (self-pay) price is $3,234 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,366 — about 1.4× 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 Wisconsin?

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.

Explore all cholecystectomy cost data

→ See cholecystectomy costs across all states

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. If you've received a bill for this procedure:
→ Analyze your medical bill for errors
→ How to negotiate your medical bills
→ Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account)