How Much Does a D&C (Dilation and Curettage) Cost in 2026?
Without insurance, an outpatient D&C typically costs $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the setting and whether a hysteroscope is used. With insurance, most people pay about $500 to $3,000 out of pocket.
This guide covers a non-obstetric, gynecologic D&C (for abnormal uterine bleeding, retained tissue, or a diagnostic sample). A D&C may also be done after a miscarriage; the cost drivers are the same.
- The setting drives the price: the same D&C done in an office or an ambulatory surgery center is usually far cheaper than one done in a hospital outpatient department, mostly because of the facility fee.
- A hysteroscopy with D&C or biopsy (CPT 58558), where a thin camera guides the procedure, costs more than a standard D&C (CPT 58120) because of the added scope, imaging, and time.
- Billed/chargemaster charges (often $6,000-$18,000+) are far above what insurers, Medicare, or negotiated cash payers actually pay, so never treat the list price as final.
D&C Cost by Setting and Type
Cash / self-pay price ranges for an outpatient D&C. The setting, and whether a hysteroscope is used, are the biggest factors.
| Type and setting | Cash price |
|---|---|
| Standard D&C, ambulatory surgery center | $3,000 to $6,500 |
| Standard D&C, hospital outpatient dept | $4,500 to $10,000 |
| Hysteroscopy with D&C / biopsy, surgery center | $4,000 to $8,000 |
| Hysteroscopy with D&C / biopsy, hospital outpatient | $5,000 to $10,000+ |
Lowest price: A standard D&C (CPT 58120) at an office or an ambulatory surgery center, with a bundled cash price. A D&C removes tissue from the uterine lining; it is a smaller, short outpatient procedure, not major surgery like a hysterectomy or a fibroid removal.
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What Makes Up the Bill
Total billed before insurance is typically $6,000 to $18,000. It is usually split across:
The single biggest lever is the facility fee, which is why an office or an ambulatory surgery center is far cheaper than a hospital outpatient department for the same D&C. A hysteroscopy with D&C (CPT 58558) adds scope and imaging cost on top of this. Removed tissue is almost always sent to pathology, which is billed separately. Anesthesia is a separate bill too, so confirm the anesthesiologist is in-network.
With vs. Without Insurance
Without insurance (self-pay)
$3,000 to $10,000
Ask for the cash or prompt-pay price up front, and ask specifically about an office or surgery-center setting if you are a candidate. A bundled cash price is often far below the billed amount.
With insurance (out of pocket)
$500 to $3,000
With commercial insurance, an in-network, medically necessary D&C leaves you owing your deductible plus coinsurance up to your annual out-of-pocket maximum, commonly $500-$3,000 total for an outpatient case. Confirm the physician, facility, AND anesthesiologist are all in-network to avoid balance/surprise bills. Medicare beneficiaries owe about 20% coinsurance after the Part B deductible unless a Medigap plan covers it.
Prices vary widely by region and by provider. Within a single metro, hospital-reported cash prices for the same D&C code can differ by several times over, so shopping 3-4 local facilities and asking each for an all-in price matters more than your region alone.
How to Pay Less
Ask about an office or surgery-center setting
An office or an ambulatory surgery center carries a much lower facility fee than a hospital outpatient department. For a straightforward D&C, it is usually the lowest-cost venue. Ask your doctor whether your case can be done outside a hospital.
Ask whether you need a hysteroscope or general anesthesia
A standard D&C (CPT 58120) costs less than a hysteroscopy with D&C (CPT 58558), and lighter sedation costs less than general anesthesia. These are medical decisions, but it is fair to ask your doctor what your case actually requires and what each option adds to the bill.
Request an all-in bundled cash price in writing
Uninsured patients are billed the full chargemaster rate, often 2-3x the negotiated rate. Ask for a single bundled price that includes the physician, anesthesia, facility, and pathology so there are no surprise add-ons. Hospitals commonly cut 30-60% for cash paid upfront.
Compare facilities using price-transparency files
Federal rules require hospitals to post machine-readable cash prices. Reported prices for the same D&C code range widely, so shopping 3-4 local facilities can save thousands.
Check hospital charity care, or get the bill reduced
Uninsured or lower income? Many hospitals offer free or discounted care. Use the charity care finder to see if you qualify nearby. Already billed? CareRoute Bill Defense reviews and negotiates it down, with no fee unless we save you money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover a D&C?
Yes, when it is medically necessary (for example, abnormal or heavy uterine bleeding, retained tissue, or to diagnose the cause of bleeding), a D&C is covered by essentially all commercial plans, Medicare, and Medicaid. A D&C after a miscarriage is covered too. Your out-of-pocket is your deductible plus coinsurance, capped by your plan's annual out-of-pocket maximum, commonly $500 to $3,000 for an outpatient case. Confirm the physician, facility, and anesthesiologist are all in-network.
How much is a D&C without insurance?
A self-pay outpatient D&C usually runs about $3,000 to $10,000 all in (facility, surgeon, anesthesia, and pathology). Bundled cash prices commonly land near $3,600 to $8,000, with an office or ambulatory surgery center at the lower end and a hospital outpatient department at the higher end. A hysteroscopy with D&C costs more than a standard D&C. Ask for a bundled cash price up front, since it is often far below the billed chargemaster amount.
Why does a hysteroscopy with D&C cost more than a standard D&C?
A standard D&C (CPT 58120) scrapes or suctions the uterine lining. A hysteroscopy with D&C or biopsy (CPT 58558) adds a thin lighted camera so the doctor can see inside the uterus, sample the lining, and remove polyps or targeted tissue. The scope, imaging, and added time raise the facility and physician cost, so CPT 58558 typically runs higher than CPT 58120. The right choice depends on what your doctor needs to see or treat, not on cost alone.
Why is the billed amount so much higher than what people actually pay?
The chargemaster (list) price is a starting point almost no one pays. Billed charges for a D&C commonly run $6,000 to $18,000 or more, but insurers pay negotiated rates and Medicare pays a few thousand dollars total for an outpatient case. Cash patients should always negotiate off the billed amount or ask for an all-in bundled price.
How much does Medicare pay for a D&C (CPT 58120)?
Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the surgeon's fee is about $210 for a D&C (CPT 58120) done in a facility (about $298 in a non-facility office setting), and about $204 for a hysteroscopy with D&C or biopsy (CPT 58558) in a facility. The hospital or surgery-center facility fee is billed separately and is larger, so Medicare's total approved amount for an outpatient D&C is typically a few thousand dollars, with you responsible for about 20% coinsurance after the Part B deductible (a Medigap plan can cover that).
More Cost Guides
Sources
- CMS 2026 Physician Fee Schedule, national payment from total RVUs and the $33.4009 conversion factor (CPT 58120, 58558)
- MDsave bundled cash pricing for dilation and curettage (national average and state ranges)
- Hospital price-transparency (machine-readable file) cash rates for D&C CPT codes
- GoodRx patient guidance on D&C insurance coverage and out-of-pocket cost
- Healthcare Bluebook and FAIR Health fair-price data for dilation and curettage
Prices are national estimates for 2026 and vary by location, provider, setting, and your specific plan. Last updated October 2, 2026.