EKG Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

An EKG, also written ECG, records the electrical activity of the heart through small sensors placed on the chest, arms and legs. The test itself takes only a few minutes and does not involve needles. Even so, the price can vary a lot, because the setting and the billing method drive it.

A simple resting EKG is one of the lower-priced diagnostic tests. The bill grows when it is added to an office visit, performed in an emergency department, or billed with a separate fee for the physician who reads the tracing.

Without insurance, cash prices for a routine EKG commonly fall in the range of $54 – $197. MDsave estimates a national average of $192, which is close to the top of that range. That suggests many people pay less than the national average, particularly at independent clinics that list a flat self-pay price.

The setting often drives the difference:

• Primary care or urgent care office: Often the simplest and lowest-priced option, though some bill a visit fee on top.
• Standalone cardiology practice: Usually a defined test price, with the doctor's interpretation bundled or billed on its own.
• Hospital outpatient department: A facility fee can raise the total.
• Emergency department: The EKG is typically one line in a much larger bill.

Prices differ by state. Sidecar Health publishes average cash prices for a routine ECG in several states.

The spread between the lowest and highest states shown is modest compared with how much prices can differ between facilities in the same city. A hospital in a lower-priced state may still charge more than a clinic in a higher-priced one, so use the state averages as a general guide and then check local providers.

If you have health insurance, your share depends on your plan. A routine EKG may be subject to your deductible, a copay or coinsurance, depending on how the plan handles diagnostic tests. Some plans cover an EKG as part of a visit, while others process it as a separate line.

Things worth checking with your insurer:

1. Whether the provider is in network. An out-of-network clinic can lead to a larger bill.
2. How the test is billed. An EKG added to a visit may carry a separate charge.
3. Whether you have met your deductible. If not, you may owe the full allowed amount.
4. Whether a referral or authorization is needed. Most plans do not require one for a basic EKG, but plan rules vary.

A licensed doctor decides whether an EKG is appropriate for you. For cost questions, call your insurer or the clinic's billing office.

• Where the test is performed: Hospital departments commonly charge more than offices and clinics.
• Interpretation fee: The physician who reads the tracing may bill separately from the person who administers the test.
• Visit fee: If the EKG is part of an appointment, the appointment charge is added.
• Type of test: A resting 12-lead EKG is the typical routine test. Other heart monitoring tests are priced separately and are not covered by the figures here.
• Location: State and local market rates differ, as the state prices above show.
• Pay method: Many clinics offer a lower rate when you pay at the time of service.

Sources use different data. One may base its estimate on the prices facilities have posted, another on what patients reported paying or on listed cash prices from one provider network. MDsave gives a range because it reflects many facilities, while a state figure from Sidecar Health is an average for a single state. When you compare numbers from different places, check what each one is measuring and the date.

• Ask for the self-pay rate: Request the total including interpretation before you book.
• Call more than one place: A short phone call to a clinic, an urgent care center and a hospital outpatient department can show a clear difference.
• Look up posted hospital prices: Hospitals post their prices online, and a search for the test name may show a cash rate.
• Try a price-comparison service: Some list prepaid cash prices by location.
• Ask about charity care or discounts: Many hospitals have programs for lower-income patients.
• Request an itemized bill: Check for duplicate charges, and ask the billing office to explain anything unclear.

• Is the interpretation included in the price?
• Is there a visit or facility fee on top of the test?
• What is the self-pay price if I do not use insurance?
• Will a separate doctor bill me for reading the results?
• Can I get the estimate in writing?