Cost of a Colonoscopy Visit
in Iowa
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Iowa's healthcare system serves a population spread across 99 counties, with many residents in rural areas traveling significant distances for specialized care like colonoscopy procedures. Based on negotiated insurance rates, patients typically pay between $85 and $944 for a colonoscopy visit, with a median cost of $466. With 458 active colonoscopy providers across Iowa, patients have multiple options to find affordable care that fits their needs and insurance coverage.
Average
$498
Median
$466
Lowest
$85
Highest
$944
Providers
458
4% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does colonoscopy compare to related procedures in Iowa?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy with Biopsy Colonoscopy with biopsy | 45380 | $85 | $720 | $1,373 | 385 |
| Colonoscopy with Polyp Removal Colonoscopy with polyp removal by snare | 45385 | $95 | $885 | $1,197 | 288 |
| Upper Endoscopy (EGD) Diagnostic upper GI endoscopy | 43235 | $135 | $594 | $691 | 254 |
| Upper Endoscopy with Biopsy Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 43239 | $85 | $560 | $902 | 293 |
| ECG / EKG 12-lead electrocardiogram with interpretation | 93000 | $14 | $28 | $93 | 780 |
| Echocardiogram Transthoracic echocardiogram with Doppler | 93306 | $85 | $245 | $477 | 454 |
| OB Ultrasound Obstetric ultrasound, complete | 76805 | $58 | $135 | $329 | 397 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 45378 — Diagnostic colonoscopy, flexible). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 45378 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 45378 (Diagnostic colonoscopy, flexible), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 45378 covers: the provider's professional fee for colonoscopy. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Colonoscopy Visit Costs Vary Across Iowa
Iowa's colonoscopy costs average about 9% below national rates, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and rural healthcare economics. The state's agricultural economy and dispersed population create unique dynamics in healthcare pricing and access patterns.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City concentrate most gastroenterology specialists, while rural counties often lack local colonoscopy services. Patients in western and northern Iowa frequently travel 60-90 minutes for procedures, though some critical access hospitals now offer visiting specialist clinics.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital systems like UnityPoint Health and Mercy Health Network operate most colonoscopy facilities in Iowa's smaller cities, while independent gastroenterology practices remain common in urban areas. Ambulatory surgery centers, particularly around Des Moines, often provide the lowest-cost options for routine screening procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Iowa
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield maintains dominant market share across rural Iowa, with UnitedHealthCare and Aetna competing primarily in metropolitan areas. Limited insurer competition in many counties reduces negotiating leverage, though Medicaid managed care has introduced some pricing pressure.
Physician Supply and Demand in Iowa
With 458 active colonoscopy providers serving Iowa's 3.2 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This geographic imbalance creates pricing variations, with urban providers facing more competition while rural specialists can command premium rates for their limited availability.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Colonoscopy Costs in Iowa
What is the average cost of a Colonoscopy visit in Iowa without insurance?
Does Iowa Medicaid cover Colonoscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Colonoscopy near me in Iowa?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Colonoscopy visit in Iowa?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Colonoscopy in Iowa?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 45378)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $4,430 | $1,595 |
| 2 | North Dakota Range: $165 – $2,255 | $1,558 |
| 3 | Minnesota Range: $90 – $2,255 | $1,217 |
| 4 | South Dakota Range: $85 – $2,255 | $895 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Range: $113 – $1,830 | $815 |
| 6 | Rhode Island Range: $91 – $1,830 | $781 |
| 7 | Connecticut Range: $90 – $1,830 | $748 |
| 8 | Delaware Range: $95 – $1,830 | $747 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Range: $85 – $1,830 | $746 |
| 10 | New York Range: $101 – $1,830 | $743 |
| 11 | West Virginia Range: $85 – $1,395 | $612 |
| 12 | Nebraska Range: $265 – $815 | $594 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Range: $204 – $956 | $571 |
| 14 | Wyoming Range: $158 – $1,057 | $530 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $90 – $1,065 | $511 |
| 16 | Georgia Range: $90 – $982 | $507 |
| 17 | New Jersey Range: $110 – $1,117 | $505 |
| 18 | New Mexico Range: $168 – $954 | $502 |
| 19 | Iowa Range: $85 – $944 | $498 |
| 20 | Maine Range: $220 – $674 | $485 |
| 21 | Illinois Range: $85 – $901 | $443 |
| 22 | Utah Range: $85 – $741 | $441 |
| 23 | District of Columbia Range: $126 – $815 | $437 |
| 24 | Indiana Range: $81 – $835 | $425 |
| 25 | Vermont Range: $106 – $801 | $418 |
| 26 | Missouri Range: $174 – $634 | $417 |
| 27 | Washington Range: $80 – $856 | $411 |
| 28 | Oregon Range: $80 – $836 | $408 |
| 29 | Kentucky Range: $85 – $814 | $408 |
| 30 | Maryland Range: $162 – $712 | $396 |
| 31 | Michigan Range: $92 – $768 | $395 |
| 32 | Colorado Range: $85 – $760 | $385 |
| 33 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $757 | $385 |
| 34 | Mississippi Range: $151 – $719 | $381 |
| 35 | Alabama Range: $147 – $649 | $373 |
| 36 | Virginia Range: $124 – $682 | $368 |
| 37 | Louisiana Range: $116 – $670 | $366 |
| 38 | South Carolina Range: $90 – $695 | $363 |
| 39 | Idaho Range: $80 – $735 | $363 |
| 40 | Nevada Range: $204 – $553 | $351 |
| 41 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $634 | $345 |
| 42 | Texas Range: $85 – $634 | $336 |
| 43 | Kansas Range: $174 – $530 | $331 |
| 44 | Ohio Range: $85 – $565 | $325 |
| 45 | Tennessee Range: $90 – $582 | $320 |
| 46 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $606 | $303 |
| 47 | Arizona Range: $155 – $472 | $300 |
| 48 | California Range: $85 – $647 | $272 |
| 49 | Alaska Range: $80 – $648 | $269 |
| 50 | Montana Range: $80 – $538 | $233 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $604 | $231 |