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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

Ear Tube Surgery Cost in Alabama (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a ear tube surgery cost in Alabama?

You could pay $601 or $1,405 for the same ear tube surgery in Alabama - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 54 reporting hospitals is $1,308. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

Three low-priced facilities in Alabama, from hospital price files

  • St. Vincent’s Chilton · Clanton, AL $360
  • St. Vincent’s Birmingham · Birmingham, AL $360
  • RUSSELLVILLE HOSPITAL INC · Russellville, AL $367

All 54 facilities are listed below, free.

Where ear tube surgery costs vary in Alabama

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

What you pay for a ear tube surgery depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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Cheapest Ear Tube Surgery Providers in Alabama

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs median ($1,308)
1 St. Vincent’s Chilton Clanton, AL $360 $948 below
2 St. Vincent’s Birmingham Birmingham, AL $360 $948 below
3 RUSSELLVILLE HOSPITAL INC Russellville, AL $367 $941 below
4 Mizell Memorial Hospital, Inc. Po Box 1010, AL $431 $877 below
5 Infirmary Health Mobile Mobile, AL $559 $749 below
6 Infirmary Health Thomas Fairhope, AL $559 $749 below
7 Infirmary Health North Baldwin Bay Minette, AL $559 $749 below
8 HH HEALTH SYSTEM DEKALB REGIONAL AL $562 $746 below

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Before you book: three questions that change the price

  1. Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
  2. Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
  3. What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost →  ·  When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →

Quick take

  • St. Vincent’s Chilton is the lowest-cost option at $360 - $948 below the median posted price ($1,308), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,337, 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.
Ear tube surgery prices by coverage in Alabama, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$1,585 to $1,585$1,585
With insurance (commercial, average)26$1,035 to $2,244$1,657
Without insurance (cash price)49$468 to $1,709$1,337
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama14$883 to $1,612$1,364
UnitedHealthcare15$692 to $2,077$1,478
Cigna11$1,314 to $3,500$1,565
Aetna8$1,052 to $3,273$1,635

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 an ear tube surgery cost with Medicare in Alabama?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for ear tube surgery is about $1,585 to $1,585 (typically near $1,585). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $317 on a $1,585 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 an ear tube surgery cost with insurance in Alabama?

Across 26 Alabama hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ear tube surgery average $1,035 to $2,244 per hospital, with a median near $1,657. 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 an ear tube surgery cost without insurance in Alabama?

Cash (self-pay) prices for ear tube surgery at 49 Alabama hospitals range from $468 to $1,709, with a median of $1,337. 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 an ear tube surgery cost with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 14 Alabama hospitals range from $883 to $1,612, with a median near $1,364. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.

Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.

How much does an ear tube surgery cost with UnitedHealthcare in Alabama?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 15 Alabama hospitals range from $692 to $2,077, with a median near $1,478. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does an ear tube surgery cost with Cigna in Alabama?

Cigna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 11 Alabama hospitals range from $1,314 to $3,500, with a median near $1,565. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How much does an ear tube surgery cost with Aetna in Alabama?

Aetna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 8 Alabama hospitals range from $1,052 to $3,273, with a median near $1,635. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.

How where you go changes what you pay for ear tube surgery

The same ear tube surgery 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.

Hospital Outpatient
$288–$10,800
  • Facility fee $48–$10,160
  • Professional fee $240–$640

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$480–$10,800
  • Facility fee $240–$10,160
  • Professional fee $240–$640

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

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.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (4) report prices above $2,695, including Troy Regional Medical Center at $4,871, 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 $1,337 versus $604 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.

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 ~$1,308
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$262
Out-of-network provider $2,878+

Frequently asked questions: ear tube surgery costs in Alabama

How much does an ear tube surgery cost in Alabama?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $562, with most facilities between $160 and $1,338 (based on 54 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Alabama hospitals run $468–$1,709; outlier facilities above and below that range are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an ear tube surgery in Alabama?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Alabama data is St. Vincent’s Chilton in Clanton at about $360. By metro, Mobile has the lowest median ($559). 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 an ear tube surgery so much cheaper at some Alabama hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 8.4× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Alabama, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,337 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,657 - 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 an ear tube surgery in Alabama?

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

Other procedures in Alabama

Ear Tube Surgery, elsewhere

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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Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

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