Ear Tube Surgery Cost in Iowa (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ear tube surgery cost in Iowa?
You could pay $446 or $1,309 for the same ear tube surgery in Iowa - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 42 reporting hospitals is $735. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Once you have a bill or an appointment on the calendar, CostKits can help you keep it all organized.
Where ear tube surgery costs vary in Iowa
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 Iowa
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs median ($735) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center | Davenport, IA | $318 | $417 below |
| 2 | MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center | Dewitt, IA | $318 | $417 below |
| 3 | Broadlawns Medical Center | Des Moines, IA | $340 | $395 below |
| 4 | HAWARDEN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE | Harwarden, IA | $347 | $388 below |
| 5 | Clarke County Public Hospital | Osceola, IA | $363 | $372 below |
| 6 | St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center | Anamosa, IA | $387 | $348 below |
| 7 | Stewart Memorial Community Hospital | Lake City, IA | $398 | $337 below |
| 8 | State University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | $443 | $292 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
- MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $318 - $417 below the median posted price ($735), just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $735, 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) | 23 | $461 to $3,968 | $2,603 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 43 | $316 to $1,500 | $735 |
| Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield | 8 | $290 to $2,853 | $352 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 15 | $1,896 to $4,745 | $3,887 |
| Aetna | 14 | $504 to $3,658 | $3,280 |
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 Iowa?
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 Iowa?
Across 23 Iowa hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ear tube surgery average $461 to $3,968 per hospital, with a median near $2,603. 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 Iowa?
Cash (self-pay) prices for ear tube surgery at 43 Iowa hospitals range from $316 to $1,500, with a median of $735. 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 Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Iowa?
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 8 Iowa hospitals range from $290 to $2,853, with a median near $352. 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 Iowa?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 15 Iowa hospitals range from $1,896 to $4,745, with a median near $3,887. 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 Iowa?
Aetna negotiated rates for ear tube surgery at 14 Iowa hospitals range from $504 to $3,658, with a median near $3,280. 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.
- Facility fee $304–$13,818
- Professional fee $240–$640
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
- Facility fee $303–$12,886
- Professional fee $240–$640
Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers
Iowa's hospital market is dominated by UnityPoint Health and MercyOne (CommonSpirit), with relatively limited inter-system competition in most markets. Des Moines prices run below national averages, but facility fees at affiliated hospital systems can add substantially to the base service rates. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is the primary academic referral center.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (5) report prices above $2,928, including Mercy Medical Center - Newton at $8,808, 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 $904 versus $375 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick.
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 | ~$735 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$147 |
| Out-of-network provider | $1,617+ |
Frequently asked questions: ear tube surgery costs in Iowa
How much does an ear tube surgery cost in Iowa?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $346, with most facilities between $152 and $970 (based on 42 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Iowa hospitals run $316–$1,500; 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 Iowa?
Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Iowa data is MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center in Davenport at about $318. By metro, Davenport has the lowest median ($310). 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 Iowa hospitals?
Typical prices vary about 6.4× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Iowa, the median cash (self-pay) price is $735 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,603 - 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 Iowa?
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
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read your medical bill
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
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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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