Ear Tube Surgery Cost in Colorado (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ear tube surgery cost in Colorado?
You could pay $777 or $1,464 for the same ear tube surgery in Colorado - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 61 reporting hospitals is $1,001. 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 Colorado, from hospital price files
- Saint Vincent Health · Leadville, CO $364
- UCHealth Greeley Hospital · Greeley, CO $370
- UCHMHS · Colorado Springs, CO $375
All 61 facilities are listed below, free.
Where ear tube surgery costs vary in Colorado
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.
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 Colorado
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs median ($1,001) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Vincent Health | Leadville, CO | $364 | $637 below |
| 2 | UCHealth Greeley Hospital | Greeley, CO | $370 | $631 below |
| 3 | UCHMHS | Colorado Springs, CO | $375 | $626 below |
| 4 | University of Colorado Hospital Authority | Aurora, CO | $380 | $621 below |
| 5 | UCHealth Broomfield Hospital | Broomfield, CO | $413 | $588 below |
| 6 | Lincoln Health | CO | $493 | $508 below |
| 7 | Kindred Hospital Denver | Denver, CO | $659 | $342 below |
| 8 | Kindred Hospital Aurora | Aurora, CO | $659 | $342 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
- 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?
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost → · When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →
Quick take
- Saint Vincent Health is the lowest-cost option at $364 - $637 below the median posted price ($1,001), just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,001, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Ask whether this procedure can be done at a freestanding ambulatory surgical center - they're typically 30-60% cheaper than a hospital for identical care, and most aren't in this hospital-only dataset.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $1,585 to $1,585 | $1,585 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 50 | $959 to $3,941 | $3,220 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 65 | $363 to $1,690 | $1,001 |
| Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield | 45 | $772 to $4,595 | $1,603 |
| Aetna | 26 | $3,478 to $10,896 | $5,232 |
| Cigna | 24 | $1,316 to $5,610 | $1,700 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 17 | $3,079 to $4,888 | $3,903 |
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 Colorado?
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 Colorado?
Across 50 Colorado hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ear tube surgery average $959 to $3,941 per hospital, with a median near $3,220. 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 Colorado?
Cash (self-pay) prices for ear tube surgery at 65 Colorado hospitals range from $363 to $1,690, with a median of $1,001. 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 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado?
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 45 Colorado hospitals range from $772 to $4,595, with a median near $1,603. 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 Aetna in Colorado?
Aetna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 26 Colorado hospitals range from $3,478 to $10,896, with a median near $5,232. 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 much does an ear tube surgery cost with Cigna in Colorado?
Cigna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 24 Colorado hospitals range from $1,316 to $5,610, with a median near $1,700. 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 UnitedHealthcare in Colorado?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 17 Colorado hospitals range from $3,079 to $4,888, with a median near $3,903. 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 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.
- Facility fee $310–$3,944
- Professional fee $240–$640
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- Facility fee $493–$969
- Professional fee $240–$640
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
UCHealth and CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) dominate the Front Range market, with Centura Health (now Intermountain) adding competition in the Denver corridor. Denver and Boulder wage indices are among the highest in the Mountain West, pushing Medicare-adjusted rates up relative to rural Colorado. The urban-rural price gap in Colorado is one of the widest in the country.
Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →
Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (3) report prices above $2,714, including Childrens Hospital Colorado at $3,944, 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 $1,001 versus $659 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.
On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$1,001 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$200 |
| Out-of-network provider | $2,202+ |
Frequently asked questions: ear tube surgery costs in Colorado
How much does an ear tube surgery cost in Colorado?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $775, with most facilities between $156 and $1,258 (based on 61 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Colorado hospitals run $363–$1,690; 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 Colorado?
Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Colorado data is Saint Vincent Health in Leadville at about $364. By metro, Colorado Springs has the lowest median ($667). 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 Colorado hospitals?
Typical prices vary about 8.1× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Colorado, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,001 versus a median negotiated rate of $3,220 - 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 Colorado?
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
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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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