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

Nuclear Stress Test Cost in Iowa (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a nuclear stress test cost in Iowa?

You could pay $1,464 or $2,557 for the same nuclear stress test in Iowa - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 49 reporting hospitals is $2,007. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.

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Where nuclear stress test costs vary in Iowa

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby outpatient clinics and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

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26+ people checked prices near them this month.

What you pay for a nuclear stress test depends on where you go and what is billed separately. Most patients find out after.

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Cheapest Nuclear Stress Test Providers in Iowa

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

# Facility City Price vs median ($2,007)
1 Greene County Medical Center Jefferson, IA $947 $1,060 below
2 ALEGENT HEALTH - MERCY HOSPITAL, CORNING IOWA Corning, IA $1,024 $983 below
3 CHI Health Missouri Valley Missouri Valley, IA $1,045 $962 below
4 Dallas County Hospital Perry, IA $1,099 $908 below
5 Covenant Medical Center Inc Waterloo, IA $1,216 $791 below
6 Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp Des Moines, IA $1,216 $791 below
7 State University of Iowa Iowa City, IA $1,376 $631 below
8 Grundy County Memorial Hospital Grundy Center, IA $1,436 $571 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

  • Greene County Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $947 - $1,060 below the median posted price ($2,007), just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $2,007, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
  • Doctor offices and independent clinics may charge differently from hospitals for the same service and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset. Ask your doctor whether another site is an option.
Nuclear stress test prices by coverage in Iowa, October 2026
CoverageHospitals with a rateTypical rangeMedian
Medicare (national rate)—$1,323 to $1,323$1,323
With insurance (commercial, average)37$1,051 to $3,375$2,141
Without insurance (cash price)51$947 to $3,789$2,007
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield8$382 to $2,872$808
UnitedHealthcare30$1,285 to $3,689$2,712
Aetna24$1,315 to $3,483$2,824
Cigna17$1,225 to $2,595$1,606

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 a nuclear stress test cost with Medicare in Iowa?

Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for nuclear stress test is about $1,323 to $1,323 (typically near $1,323). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $265 on a $1,323 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 a nuclear stress test cost with insurance in Iowa?

Across 37 Iowa hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for nuclear stress test average $1,051 to $3,375 per hospital, with a median near $2,141. 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 a nuclear stress test cost without insurance in Iowa?

Cash (self-pay) prices for nuclear stress test at 51 Iowa hospitals range from $947 to $3,789, with a median of $2,007. 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 a nuclear stress test cost with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Iowa?

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 8 Iowa hospitals range from $382 to $2,872, with a median near $808. 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 a nuclear stress test cost with UnitedHealthcare in Iowa?

UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 30 Iowa hospitals range from $1,285 to $3,689, with a median near $2,712. 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 a nuclear stress test cost with Aetna in Iowa?

Aetna negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 24 Iowa hospitals range from $1,315 to $3,483, with a median near $2,824. 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 a nuclear stress test cost with Cigna in Iowa?

Cigna negotiated rates for nuclear stress test at 17 Iowa hospitals range from $1,225 to $2,595, with a median near $1,606. 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 nuclear stress test

The same nuclear stress test 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
$819–$8,077
  • Facility fee $357–$6,381
  • Professional fee $462–$1,696

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$1,561–$8,077
  • Facility fee $1,099–$6,381
  • Professional fee $462–$1,696

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 (2) report prices above $4,861, including Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp at $6,381, 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 $2,007 versus $2,735 inpatient (about 1.4× more), 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 ~$2,007
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$401
Out-of-network provider $4,415+

Frequently asked questions: nuclear stress test costs in Iowa

How much does a nuclear stress test cost in Iowa?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $879, with most facilities between $506 and $1,208 (based on 49 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices at the middle 80% of Iowa hospitals run $947–$3,789; 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 a nuclear stress test in Iowa?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our Iowa data is Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson at about $947. By metro, Waterloo has the lowest median ($1,340).

Why is a nuclear stress test so much cheaper at some Iowa hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 2.4× (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 $2,007 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,141 - 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 a nuclear stress test 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

Other procedures in Iowa

Nuclear Stress Test, elsewhere

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).

Other Procedure Costs in Iowa

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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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