How Much Does a LEEP Procedure Cost in 2026?
Without insurance, a LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure) typically costs $1,000 to $6,000, lower when done in a doctor's office and higher in a hospital outpatient department, plus a separate pathology charge. With insurance, most people pay their deductible plus coinsurance, often $200 to $1,500 out of pocket.
- A LEEP is the treatment step for cervical dysplasia (abnormal or precancerous cervical cells), usually done after an abnormal Pap and a colposcopy. It is a short procedure done under local anesthesia, not major surgery.
- Where it is done drives the price: a LEEP in a doctor's office is the cheapest, while a hospital outpatient department adds a facility fee that can double or triple the bill for the same procedure.
- The removed tissue is sent to a lab and the pathology is billed separately, so ask for that charge up front and do not treat the first quoted price as the full cost.
LEEP Cost by Where It Is Done
Cash / self-pay price ranges. The setting, and whether a facility fee applies, are the biggest factors. Pathology on the removed tissue is billed separately.
| Setting | Cash price |
|---|---|
| LEEP in a doctor's office | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| LEEP at a hospital outpatient department | $3,000 to $6,000 |
| Colposcopy with LEEP (same visit) | $1,200 to $3,500 |
| Pathology on the removed tissue | $150 to $500 |
Lowest price: An in-office LEEP under local anesthesia, where there is no hospital facility fee. The step before a LEEP is usually a colposcopy to find and biopsy the abnormal area; a LEEP is the treatment that removes it.
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What Makes Up the Bill
An office LEEP may be a single line item, while a hospital LEEP is usually split across:
The single biggest lever is the hospital facility fee, which is why an in-office LEEP is far cheaper than the same procedure in a hospital outpatient department. A LEEP uses local anesthesia, so there is normally no separate anesthesiologist bill. The removed tissue is almost always sent to pathology, which is billed separately by the lab, so ask whether a cash quote includes it.
With vs. Without Insurance
Without insurance (self-pay)
$1,000 to $6,000
Ask for the cash or prompt-pay price up front, and ask specifically whether the LEEP can be done in the office rather than a hospital outpatient department. In-office pricing is often far below a hospital bill, and bundled cash quotes on platforms like MDsave frequently fall in this range.
With insurance (out of pocket)
$200 to $1,500
With commercial insurance, an in-network, medically necessary LEEP leaves you owing your deductible plus coinsurance up to your annual out-of-pocket maximum, commonly $200 to $1,500 total. Confirm the physician, facility, AND pathology lab 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 setting. Within a single metro, hospital-reported cash prices for the same LEEP code can differ by several times over, so asking whether the procedure can be done in the office, and shopping 2-3 local providers, matters more than your region alone.
How to Pay Less
Ask to have the LEEP done in the office
A LEEP is designed to be an office procedure under local anesthesia. Doing it in your gynecologist's office instead of a hospital outpatient department avoids the facility fee, which is the single largest piece of a hospital LEEP bill. Ask your doctor whether the office setting is appropriate for you.
Ask whether pathology is included, and where it is sent
The removed tissue is sent to a lab and billed separately. Ask up front for the pathology charge and make sure the lab is in-network, so the pathology bill does not arrive weeks later as a surprise.
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, facility (if any), and pathology so there are no surprise add-ons. Hospitals commonly cut 30-60% for cash paid upfront.
Compare providers using price-transparency files
Federal rules require hospitals to post machine-readable cash prices. Reported prices for the same LEEP code range widely, so shopping 2-3 local providers (and comparing against an in-office rate) can save hundreds to 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 LEEP?
Yes. When a LEEP is done to treat cervical dysplasia found on an abnormal Pap and colposcopy, it is medically necessary and is covered by essentially all commercial plans, Medicare, and Medicaid. Your out-of-pocket is your deductible plus coinsurance, capped by your plan's annual out-of-pocket maximum, commonly $200 to $1,500. The pathology on the removed tissue is billed separately, so confirm the lab is in-network too.
Why is a LEEP cheaper in the office than in a hospital?
A LEEP done in your gynecologist's office under local anesthesia has no separate hospital facility fee. When the same procedure is done in a hospital outpatient department, the hospital adds a facility charge on top of the physician fee, which can double or triple the total. If the office setting is appropriate for you, it is usually the lowest-cost option.
How is a LEEP different from a colposcopy?
A colposcopy is the exam that comes first: the doctor uses a magnifying scope to look at the cervix and take small biopsies after an abnormal Pap. A LEEP is the treatment step that comes next, using a thin heated wire loop to remove the abnormal or precancerous tissue. Sometimes both are done in the same visit.
Is pathology included in the LEEP price?
Usually not. The tissue removed during a LEEP is sent to a lab and the pathology is billed separately, typically $150 to $500. Always ask whether a quoted cash price includes the pathology, and confirm the lab is in-network if you have insurance, so it does not arrive later as a surprise bill.
How much does Medicare pay for a LEEP (CPT 57522)?
Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the physician payment for a LEEP conization of the cervix (CPT 57522) is about $301 when done in the office (non-facility) and about $231 when done in a facility, where the hospital bills its facility fee separately. A colposcopy done with a LEEP (CPT 57460) is about $309 in the office. You are responsible for about 20% coinsurance after the Part B deductible unless a Medigap plan covers it, and pathology is billed separately.
More Cost Guides
Sources
- CMS 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (CPT 57522/57460, $33.4009 conversion factor), national payment from total RVUs
- Hospital price-transparency (machine-readable file) cash rates for LEEP CPT 57522
- MDsave bundled and cash pricing for LEEP procedure (office and facility)
- GoodRx LEEP procedure cost and setting guidance
- Healthcare Bluebook and FAIR Health fair-price data for LEEP
Prices are national estimates for 2026 and vary by location, provider, setting, and your specific plan. Last updated October 2, 2026.