Colonoscopy Cost in Birmingham, AL (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a colonoscopy cost in Birmingham, AL?
You could pay $842 or $2,038 for the same colonoscopy in Birmingham, AL - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 14 reporting hospitals is $1,541. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
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Where colonoscopy costs vary in Birmingham, AL
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.
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Cheapest Colonoscopy Providers in Birmingham, AL
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baptist Health Shelby Hospital | Alabaster, AL | $842 | -$699 |
| 2 | Baptist Health Princeton Hospital | Birmingham, AL | $842 | -$699 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, AL | $403 | -$000 |
| 4 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, AL | $402 | -$000 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, AL | $401 | -$000 |
| 6 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, AL | $400 | -$000 |
| 7 | St. Vincent’s East | Birmingham, AL | $1,813 | +$272 |
| 8 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, AL | $398 | -$000 |
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Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
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Before you book: three questions that change the price
- Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
- Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
- What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?
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Quick take
- Baptist Health Shelby Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $842 - $699 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 $1,541, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- This dataset covers hospitals only - freestanding ASCs, which routinely run 30-60% cheaper for the same procedure, aren't included, so it's worth asking your doctor whether one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $950 to $2,352 | $1,223 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 6 | $695 to $1,649 | $1,576 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 14 | $822 to $2,546 | $1,541 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 6 | $724 to $1,783 | $1,763 |
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 colonoscopy cost with Medicare in Birmingham, AL?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for colonoscopy is about $950 to $2,352 (typically near $1,223). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $245 on a $1,223 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 colonoscopy cost with insurance in Birmingham, AL?
Across 6 Birmingham, AL hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for colonoscopy average $695 to $1,649 per hospital, with a median near $1,576. 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 colonoscopy cost without insurance in Birmingham, AL?
Cash (self-pay) prices for colonoscopy at 14 Birmingham, AL hospitals range from $822 to $2,546, with a median of $1,541. 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 colonoscopy cost with UnitedHealthcare in Birmingham, AL?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for colonoscopy at 6 Birmingham, AL hospitals range from $724 to $1,783, with a median near $1,763. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
Alabama's hospital market is concentrated around UAB Health System in Birmingham and Baptist Health statewide, limiting competitive pricing pressure outside the major metros. Rural facilities operate with thinner margins and fewer negotiated-rate contracts, which typically produces higher list prices alongside steeper cash discounts. Colonoscopy pricing is particularly sensitive to screening vs. diagnostic coding. A screening colonoscopy is typically covered at 100% under preventive care benefits, but if a polyp is removed or a finding is documented during the same visit, the claim is often re-coded as diagnostic - triggering your deductible and coinsurance. Ambulatory surgery centers perform over 70% of colonoscopies nationally and charge substantially less than hospital outpatient settings.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $1,325 versus $2,465 inpatient (about 1.9× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. The biggest swing for this procedure is screening versus diagnostic coding - a polyp removed during a routine screening can recode the whole visit as diagnostic and trigger cost-sharing you weren't expecting.
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 | ~$1,541 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$308 |
| Out-of-network provider | $3,390+ |
Frequently asked questions: colonoscopy costs in Birmingham, AL
How much does a colonoscopy cost in Birmingham, AL?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $364, with most facilities between $150 and $713 (based on 12 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $480 to $3,564 across all 14 Birmingham, AL 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 colonoscopy in Birmingham, AL?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Birmingham, AL data is University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham at about $480. By metro, Birmingham has the lowest median ($1,813). Freestanding ambulatory surgery centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
Why is a colonoscopy so much cheaper at some Birmingham, AL hospitals?
Prices vary up to 7.4× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Birmingham, AL, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,541 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,576 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. 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 colonoscopy in Birmingham, AL?
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 Birmingham, AL
Colonoscopy, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
ASC vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ambulatory surgery centers for the same colonoscopy - 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 colonoscopy involves multiple providers who bill separately - typically Facility Fee, Gastroenterologist 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 colonoscopy changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: Billed as preventive care - often covered at $0 under the ACA when you are average-risk and in-network.
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 colonoscopy 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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