Ultrasound Cost in Fargo, ND (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ultrasound cost in Fargo, ND?
You could pay $95 or $154 for the same ultrasound in Fargo, ND - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $121. 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 Fargo, ND, from hospital price files
- PAM Cubed Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo LLC · Fargo, ND $98
- Vibra Hospital of Fargo · Nd, ND $144
- Sanford Fargo Medical Center · Fargo, ND $248
All 4 facilities are listed below, free.
Where ultrasound costs vary in Fargo, ND
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 Fargo, ND
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PAM Cubed Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo LLC | Fargo, ND | $98 | -$23 |
| 2 | Vibra Hospital of Fargo | Nd, ND | $144 | +$23 |
| 3 | Sanford Fargo Medical Center | Fargo, ND | $248 | +$127 |
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
- PAM Cubed Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo LLC is the lowest-cost option at $98 - $23 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 $121, 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) | 3 | $227 to $288 | $263 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 4 | $76 to $217 | $121 |
| Aetna | 3 | $177 to $366 | $289 |
| Cigna | 3 | $303 to $454 | $304 |
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 Fargo, ND?
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 Fargo, ND?
Across 3 Fargo, ND hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ultrasound average $227 to $288 per hospital, with a median near $263. 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 Fargo, ND?
Cash (self-pay) prices for ultrasound at 4 Fargo, ND hospitals range from $76 to $217, with a median of $121. 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 Aetna in Fargo, ND?
Aetna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 3 Fargo, ND hospitals range from $177 to $366, with a median near $289. 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 ultrasound cost with Cigna in Fargo, ND?
Cigna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 3 Fargo, ND hospitals range from $303 to $454, with a median near $304. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
Sanford Health and CHI St. Alexius divide most of North Dakota's hospital market, with Bismarck and Fargo each effectively dominated by one system. The state's oil-economy wage growth has increased hospital labor costs, pushing prices above what the rural market structure would otherwise suggest. Critical access hospitals cover most of the rural tier. 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
Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $98 versus $144 inpatient (about 1.5× 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 | ~$121 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$24 |
| Out-of-network provider | $266+ |
Frequently asked questions: ultrasound costs in Fargo, ND
How much does an ultrasound cost in Fargo, ND?
The typical price is $121, with most facilities between $95 and $154. Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $67 to $248 across all 4 Fargo, ND 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 Fargo, ND?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Fargo, ND data is Essentia Health Fargo at about $67. By metro, Fargo has the lowest median ($173). 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 Fargo, ND hospitals?
Prices vary up to 3.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Fargo, ND, the median cash (self-pay) price is $121 versus a median negotiated rate of $263 - 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 ultrasound in Fargo, ND?
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
- How to read a Medicare Summary Notice
Other procedures in Fargo, ND
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).
Other Procedure Costs in Fargo, ND
- Appendectomy Cost in Fargo, ND
- Cataract Surgery Cost in Fargo, ND
- Childbirth Cost in Fargo, ND
- Cholecystectomy Cost in Fargo, ND
- Colonoscopy Cost in Fargo, ND
- CT Scan (Abdomen) Cost in Fargo, ND
- CT Scan (Chest) Cost in Fargo, ND
- CT Scan (Head) Cost in Fargo, ND
- CT Scan Cost in Fargo, ND
- Echocardiogram Cost in Fargo, ND
- Emergency Room Visit Cost in Fargo, ND
- Endoscopy Cost in Fargo, ND
- Hip Replacement Cost in Fargo, ND
- Hysterectomy Cost in Fargo, ND
- Knee Replacement Cost in Fargo, ND
- Mammogram Cost in Fargo, ND
- Brain MRI Cost in Fargo, ND
- Knee MRI Cost in Fargo, ND
- MRI Cost in Fargo, ND
- Spinal Fusion Cost in Fargo, ND
- X-Ray Cost in Fargo, ND
Related Articles
Interested in understanding healthcare costs and managing your medical expenses?
- Free Cost EstimatorCalculate your exact out-of-pocket cost for any procedure
- Free Bill ScreenerCheck whether your bill and paperwork are ready for a professional review
- Family Bill TrackerTrack costs across every family member and every bill in one place
- Ultrasound Cost GuideCompare Ultrasound prices across all 50 states
- Deductible vs Out-of-Pocket MaximumLearn how insurance cost-sharing works and what you actually pay
- Cost ExplorerBrowse procedures and compare prices across the country
About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
Connect on LinkedIn →Ready to take control of your healthcare costs?
Use the free cost estimator → · Get your bill screened for free → · See the family plan →