Colonoscopy Cost in Durham, NC (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a colonoscopy cost in Durham, NC?
Where you have a colonoscopy done in Durham, NC swings the bill from $505 to $2,898 for identical care. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $1,502. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.
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Cheapest Colonoscopy Providers in Durham, NC
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chatham Hospital, Inc. | NC | $544 | -$958 |
| 2 | Person Memorial Hospital | NC | $2,460 | +$958 |
| 3 | Select Specialty Hospital - Durham | NC | $6,842 | +$5,340 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Quick take
- Chatham Hospital, Inc. is the lowest-cost option at $544 - $958 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 $2,460, 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.
Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare) and Wake Forest Baptist Health have merged into one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast. Duke Health and UNC Health anchor the Research Triangle academic tier, creating a market where major academic centers hold outsized pricing leverage. North Carolina has been an active target for FTC scrutiny of hospital consolidation. 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 $544 versus $3,498 inpatient (about 6.4× 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.
What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$1,502 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$300 |
| Out-of-network provider | $3,304+ |
Frequently asked questions: colonoscopy costs in Durham, NC
How much does a colonoscopy cost in Durham, NC?
Across 4 Durham, NC hospitals that publish prices, a colonoscopy ranges from $155 to $6,842, with a median of $1,502. Most facilities fall between $447 and $2,898. 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 Durham, NC?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Durham, NC data is Southwest Healthcare in Temecula at about $155. 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 Durham, NC hospitals?
Prices vary up to 44.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Durham, NC, the median cash (self-pay) price is $2,460 versus a median negotiated rate of $155 - about 15.9× 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 Durham, NC?
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 a Medicare Summary Notice
Other procedures in Durham, NC
Colonoscopy, 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 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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