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

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

What does a ear tube surgery cost in Illinois?

Where you have an ear tube surgery done in Illinois swings the bill from $738 to $1,662 for identical care. The median cash price across 90 reporting hospitals is $1,466. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

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

  • Memorial Hospital - Chester $372
  • OSF Healthcare System · Alton, IL $387
  • RML Health Providers LP · Hinsdale, IL $404

All 90 facilities are listed below, free.

Where ear tube surgery costs vary in Illinois

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 Illinois

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

# Facility City Price vs median ($1,466)
1 Memorial Hospital - Chester IL $372 $1,094 below
2 OSF Healthcare System Alton, IL $387 $1,079 below
3 RML Health Providers LP Hinsdale, IL $404 $1,062 below
4 Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL $406 $1,060 below
5 OSF Saint Paul Medical Center Mendota, IL $428 $1,038 below
6 Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL $445 $1,021 below
7 Blessing Hospital Quincy, IL $451 $1,015 below
8 Carlinville Area Hospital Association Carlinville, IL $514 $952 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

  • Memorial Hospital - Chester is the lowest-cost option at $372 - $1,094 below the median posted price ($1,466), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,466, 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.
Ear tube surgery prices by coverage in Illinois, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$1,585 to $1,585$1,585
With insurance (commercial, average)60$374 to $3,666$2,459
Without insurance (cash price)87$344 to $2,238$1,466
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois28$288 to $2,497$1,154
UnitedHealthcare51$380 to $3,952$2,458
Aetna29$453 to $4,150$1,836
Cigna17$290 to $1,257$755

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 Illinois?

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 Illinois?

Across 60 Illinois hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ear tube surgery average $374 to $3,666 per hospital, with a median near $2,459. 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 Illinois?

Cash (self-pay) prices for ear tube surgery at 87 Illinois hospitals range from $344 to $2,238, with a median of $1,466. 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 Illinois?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 28 Illinois hospitals range from $288 to $2,497, with a median near $1,154. 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 Illinois?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 51 Illinois hospitals range from $380 to $3,952, with a median near $2,458. 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 Aetna in Illinois?

Aetna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 29 Illinois hospitals range from $453 to $4,150, with a median near $1,836. 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 Illinois?

Cigna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 17 Illinois hospitals range from $290 to $1,257, with a median near $755. 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 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
$307–$12,964
  • Facility fee $67–$12,324
  • Professional fee $240–$640

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$307–$7,263
  • Facility fee $67–$6,623
  • Professional fee $240–$640

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Illinois presents two distinct markets: Chicago (highly competitive, high commercial rates, major academic medical centers) and downstate (lower density, smaller regional systems, lower rates). Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and Rush University Medical Center compete aggressively in the Chicago market. Downstate Illinois prices typically run 20–35% below Chicago-area rates for identical services.

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 (9) report prices above $3,291, including Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital at $7,317, 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 $1,497 versus $404 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 ~$1,466
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$293
Out-of-network provider $3,225+

Frequently asked questions: ear tube surgery costs in Illinois

How much does an ear tube surgery cost in Illinois?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $658, with most facilities between $156 and $1,483 (based on 83 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Illinois hospitals run $344–$2,238; 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 Illinois?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Illinois data is Memorial Hospital - Chester at about $372. By metro, Hinsdale has the lowest median ($531). 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 Illinois hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 9.5× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Illinois, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,466 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,459 - 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 Illinois?

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 Illinois

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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