Out-of pocket costs for the patient can vary depending on several factors, such as whether the patient's insurance offers coverage or if any tissue needs to be removed or biopsied during the procedure.
According to the associates at Cost Helper.com, patients that have little or no health coverage can expect to pay anywhere from $2,010 to $3,764 for a colonoscopy.
Cost Helper.com also claims that patients who have decent levels of health coverage can expect to pay between zero and over $1,000 out-of-pocket for a colonoscopy. This depends on deductibles and co-pays.
If any polyps are removed during the colonoscopy, the overall cost of the procedure will increase. Anesthesia administered to sedate the patient before the procedure begins can also add to the overall cost.
An alternative to a colonoscopy is a flexible sigmoidoscopy. This procedure, which is less expensive because it does not require sedation and only takes about 20 minutes to complete, can cost between $100 and $300. It is less effective, however, as it only allows the doctor to view half of the colon.