How much does Tonsillectomy cost in Austin?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $2,698 at Ascension Seton Cedar Park to $5,414 at St. David's South Austin Medical Center, based on the hospitals' own federally mandated price files.

Is it cheaper to pay cash than use insurance?

Sometimes. Several hospitals publish discounted cash prices below the rates insurers negotiate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the self-pay price.

Why do prices differ so much between hospitals?

Each hospital negotiates rates separately with each insurer, and hospitals in the same health system usually share one contract. The same procedure with the same insurer can cost several times more across town.

Costs · Surgery · Tonsillectomy · Austin · codes 42820, 42821, 42826

How much does a tonsillectomy cost in Austin?

Surgical removal of the tonsils; bundle includes the with-adenoids variant. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 16 Austin-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$2,698

lowest median negotiated rate

Ascension Seton Cedar Park

$5,414

highest (adult hospitals)

St. David's South Austin Medical Center

2.0×

price spread

same procedure, same metro

Rates shown

Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt

cash (self-pay) price

Hospital	Gross charge	Cash price	Negotiated	Range	# rates	vs median

* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.

SOURCE: standard-charges files from 16 hospitals · file dates 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-13 · retrieved 2026-08-14

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock, the self-pay price is $4,424 — less than the $4,979 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

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