Ultrasound Cost in St Louis, MO (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ultrasound cost in St Louis, MO?
You could pay $62 or $196 for the same ultrasound in St Louis, MO - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 37 reporting hospitals is $110. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. Pick your coverage in the tabs below to see your number.
Insurance
With commercial insurance, ultrasound in St Louis, MO typically runs $62–$196, facility and physician fees combined. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible and coinsurance.
Medicare
Medicare pays the same national rate to every provider that accepts it, adjusted slightly for local wages, so choosing a different hospital doesn't change what Medicare pays. For ultrasound that rate is about $107–$107 (typically near $107). After the $257 Part B deductible you generally pay 20% of the approved amount, about $21.
Read the full Medicare coverage guide →
Your personalized cost report includes:
- ✓ Why a facility splits into a technical bill and a separate radiologist bill (and an office bills one global fee)
- ✓ How the radiologist who reads your images can be out-of-network even at an in-network facility
- ✓ Why a hospital outpatient department costs far more than an independent imaging center
- ✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price - and the questions to ask first
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
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Medicaid
Medicaid is run by each state, and it pays fixed rates to the providers that accept it, so the price doesn't change from one hospital to the next. Most people on Medicaid owe nothing or a small copay for covered care, but what's covered and what you owe depends on your state and plan. CostKits doesn't show a Medicaid price here because those rates are set by the state, not negotiated by each hospital. The question that matters is whether the provider accepts your Medicaid plan, so ask before you schedule.
Your personalized cost report includes:
- ✓ Why a facility splits into a technical bill and a separate radiologist bill (and an office bills one global fee)
- ✓ How the radiologist who reads your images can be out-of-network even at an in-network facility
- ✓ Why a hospital outpatient department costs far more than an independent imaging center
- ✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price - and the questions to ask first
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
Free for patients - takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll send a sign-in link to your email — click it to get your guide. No account required, no spam.
No insurance
Posted cash prices for ultrasound at 36 St Louis, MO hospitals range from $59–$553, with a median of $156. The lowest posted price we found is Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO at $51. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for the hospital’s financial-assistance policy before you book.
Once you have a bill or an appointment on the calendar, CostKits can help you keep it all organized.
Where ultrasound costs vary in St Louis, MO
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby imaging 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.
The same ultrasound can be one bill or two - and the radiologist can be out-of-network even when the facility isn't.
Your personalized cost report includes:
- ✓ Why a facility splits into a technical bill and a separate radiologist bill (and an office bills one global fee)
- ✓ How the radiologist who reads your images can be out-of-network even at an in-network facility
- ✓ Why a hospital outpatient department costs far more than an independent imaging center
- ✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price - and the questions to ask first
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
Free for patients - takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll send a sign-in link to your email - click it to get your guide. No account required, no spam.
Cheapest Ultrasound Providers in St Louis, MO
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MO | $975 | -$000 |
| 2 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MO | $974 | -$000 |
| 3 | Ssm Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital | Saint Louis, MO | $59 | -$51 |
| 4 | Jersey Community Hospital | Jerseyville, MO | $59 | -$51 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MO | $971 | -$000 |
| 6 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MO | $970 | -$000 |
| 7 | Ssm Health St. Joseph Hospital-St Charles | Saint Charles, MO | $62 | -$48 |
| 8 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, MO | $968 | -$000 |
Your ranked price list is on its way to your email. Open the PDF now.
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Email me this price comparison plus what to ask before booking
Sends a PDF with all 37 facilities ranked cheapest first, plus a short checklist of questions that change what you pay. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
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
- Barnes Jewish Hospital is the lowest-cost option at $51 - $59 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $156, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Independent imaging centers often charge much less than hospital outpatient departments for the same scan and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $107 to $107 | $107 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 26 | $73 to $265 | $119 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 36 | $59 to $553 | $156 |
| Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield | 19 | $32 to $264 | $77 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 20 | $135 to $475 | $250 |
| Cigna | 20 | $41 to $248 | $96 |
| Aetna | 14 | $62 to $310 | $132 |
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 ultrasound cost with Medicare in St Louis, MO?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for ultrasound is about $107 to $107 (typically near $107). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $21 on a $107 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 ultrasound cost with insurance in St Louis, MO?
Across 26 St Louis, MO hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ultrasound average $73 to $265 per hospital, with a median near $119. 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 ultrasound cost without insurance in St Louis, MO?
Cash (self-pay) prices for ultrasound at 36 St Louis, MO hospitals range from $59 to $553, with a median of $156. 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 ultrasound cost with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in St Louis, MO?
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for ultrasound at 19 St Louis, MO hospitals range from $32 to $264, with a median near $77. 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 ultrasound cost with UnitedHealthcare in St Louis, MO?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ultrasound at 20 St Louis, MO hospitals range from $135 to $475, with a median near $250. 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 ultrasound cost with Cigna in St Louis, MO?
Cigna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 20 St Louis, MO hospitals range from $41 to $248, with a median near $96. 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 ultrasound cost with Aetna in St Louis, MO?
Aetna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 14 St Louis, MO hospitals range from $62 to $310, with a median near $132. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, Mercy Health, and CoxHealth divide Missouri roughly by region, with meaningful inter-system competition in both St. Louis and Kansas City. Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJC) is the dominant academic medical center. Rural Missouri - particularly the Ozarks - has significant critical access hospital coverage where pricing structures differ from PPS hospitals. Ultrasound pricing varies more by body part and clinical indication than almost any other imaging type - an OB ultrasound, a vascular duplex study, and an abdominal ultrasound carry different CPT codes and reimbursement rates even though the equipment is the same. Independent imaging centers typically charge 40–60% less than hospital outpatient departments for the same study. The sonographer skill matters more than setting for diagnostic quality.
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 (5) report prices above $460, including St. Lukes Hospital at $1,514, 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 $125 versus $156 inpatient (about 1.2× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Whether the scan happens in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a separate facility fee) or a freestanding imaging center is usually the single biggest driver of price for this procedure.
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 | ~$110 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$22 |
| Out-of-network provider | $242+ |
Frequently asked questions: ultrasound costs in St Louis, MO
How much does an ultrasound cost in St Louis, MO?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $45, with most facilities between $37 and $50 (based on 34 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $42 to $1,514 across all 37 St Louis, MO hospitals that publish prices. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get an ultrasound in St Louis, MO?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our St Louis, MO data is The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis an affiliation of BJC HealthCare and Encompass Health in St. Louis at about $42. By metro, St. Louis has the lowest median ($46). Independent imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
Why is an ultrasound so much cheaper at some St Louis, MO hospitals?
Prices vary up to 36× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In St Louis, MO, the median cash (self-pay) price is $156 versus a median negotiated rate of $119 - about 1.3× higher. 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 ultrasound in St Louis, MO?
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
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- EOB vs medical bill: complete guide
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
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Ultrasound, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
Imaging center vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than independent imaging centers for the same ultrasound - same outcome, very different bill. The ER charges the most of any setting and should only be used when the situation is medically urgent. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
Cost by type
Which type your doctor orders for this ultrasound changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
This is shoppable
Ultrasound is elective and schedulable, so you have time to compare facilities before booking - hospital outpatient prices often run 2-4x higher than alternative settings for the identical clinical outcome.
What to ask before you book
Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for ultrasound before you schedule.
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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