Colonoscopy Cost in Montana (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a colonoscopy cost in Montana?

For a commercially insured patient, a colonoscopy in Montana typically runs $781–$2,306 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 36 hospitals is $483. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) and RiverStone Health cover most of Montana's population. The state's vast geography means most residents have little or no practical alternative to their nearest facility, effectively eliminating competitive pricing pressure outside Billings and Missoula. Critical access hospitals are widespread and use cost-based reimbursement for Medicare.

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.

The same colonoscopy that costs $100 at Fallon Medical Complex in Baker reaches $13,783 at St. James Healthcare INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH ST JAMES HOSPITAL in Butte — a 137.8× gap across the 36 Montana hospitals reporting prices. The median Montana price is $483. Most facilities fall between $234 and $950. There's a gap between the sticker and the real price here: a median cash quote of $483 sits above the $308 insurers negotiate — about 1.6× higher, so asking for the cash or insurer-negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on your bill. Where you go inside Montana counts as much as which plan you have: Sheridan's median ($744) runs 3.5× Choteau's ($214).

Where colonoscopy costs vary in Montana

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   → Colonoscopy costs nationwide

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Lower-cost options in Montana start around $234 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $234 and $996. 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: Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains (cash price from $202); Fallon Medical Complex in Baker (cash price from $204); Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital in Hamilton (cash price from $205). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Montana Colonoscopy 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 Montana:

• Appendectomy Cost in Montana
• Cataract Surgery Cost in Montana

Where you can save the most on colonoscopy in Montana

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 colonoscopy providers in Montana

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 $2,139, 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 Montana: the median outpatient price is $480 versus $508 inpatient, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the Montana facilities reporting prices, 13 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $234) while 14 sit in a high-cost tier ($996 and up) — a lower-priced option almost always exists within the same state.

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)

Colonoscopy Costs by Metro Area in Montana

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

• Colonoscopy Cost in Billings, MT
• Colonoscopy Cost in Missoula, MT

Compare colonoscopy costs in nearby states

• New York
• California
• Texas
• Florida

Frequently asked questions: colonoscopy costs in Montana

How much does a colonoscopy cost in Montana?

Across 36 Montana hospitals that publish prices, a colonoscopy ranges from $100 to $13,783, with a median of $483. Most facilities fall between $234 and $950. 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 Montana?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Montana data is McCone County Health Center at about $201. By metro, Choteau has the lowest median ($214). 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 colonoscopy so much cheaper at some Montana hospitals?

Prices vary up to 137.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Montana, the median cash (self-pay) price is $483 versus a median negotiated rate of $308 — about 1.6× 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 colonoscopy in Montana?

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 colonoscopy cost data

→ See colonoscopy 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)