A full (total) hysterectomy typically costs between $6,000 and $12,000 in total, depending on where the surgery is performed. If you have insurance or Medicare, your out-of-pocket share usually falls between $1,200 and $2,000. Without insurance, the bill can climb significantly higher, sometimes reaching $20,000 or more before any negotiated discounts.
What a “Full Hysterectomy” Includes
A full hysterectomy, clinically called a total hysterectomy, removes both the uterus and the cervix. This is different from a supracervical (partial) hysterectomy, which leaves the cervix in place, and a radical hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, cervix, and surrounding tissue and is typically reserved for cancer cases. Some people also have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed at the same time, which adds to the scope of surgery and can affect the final cost.
When you see price estimates, make sure the quote matches what your surgeon has actually recommended. Removing tubes and ovaries is a separate decision from removing the uterus, and some facilities bill it as a distinct procedure.
Cost Breakdown: Facility Fee vs. Doctor Fee
The total price of a hysterectomy is split into two main charges: the facility fee (covering the operating room, nursing staff, anesthesia, and supplies) and the surgeon’s professional fee. The facility fee is by far the larger portion.
Medicare’s 2026 national average payment data illustrates this clearly for a laparoscopic total hysterectomy with removal of tubes or ovaries. At an ambulatory surgical center (an outpatient facility), the total approved cost averages $6,225, with the facility fee at $5,120 and the doctor fee at $1,105. At a hospital outpatient department, the same procedure averages $11,965 total, with the facility fee jumping to $10,860 while the doctor fee stays at $1,105.
The takeaway: choosing an outpatient surgical center over a hospital can nearly cut the total cost in half. The surgeon’s skill and fee stay the same. You’re paying for the building.
What You’ll Pay Out of Pocket With Insurance
If you have Medicare, you’re generally responsible for 20% of the approved amount. That works out to roughly $1,245 at a surgical center or $1,957 at a hospital outpatient department, though Medicare caps hospital outpatient copayments at $1,676 for procedures like this.
Private insurance varies more widely. Most plans cover hysterectomy when it’s medically necessary (for conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal bleeding, or cancer), but your actual cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance rate, and out-of-pocket maximum. If you haven’t met your deductible yet for the year, you could owe several thousand dollars even with good coverage. If you’ve already hit your out-of-pocket max, you may owe nothing.
Before scheduling, call your insurer and ask for a pre-authorization and a cost estimate specific to your plan. Also confirm that both your surgeon and the facility are in-network. An in-network surgeon operating at an out-of-network hospital can result in surprise facility charges.
Robotic vs. Laparoscopic vs. Open Surgery
Hysterectomies can be performed three main ways: through small incisions using a laparoscope, with robotic assistance (still minimally invasive), or through a larger abdominal incision (open surgery). The surgical approach affects both cost and recovery time.
Robotic-assisted surgery often appears more expensive at first glance because of the cost of the robotic system itself. However, a study published in the Journal of Robotic Surgery found that after adjusting for patient factors like age, body weight, and surgical history, robotic hysterectomy cost only about $280 more on average than standard laparoscopic hysterectomy, a difference that was not statistically significant. For patients with smaller uteri, the adjusted cost difference shrank to roughly $120.
Open abdominal hysterectomy tends to involve a longer hospital stay (typically two to three nights versus same-day or one night for minimally invasive approaches), which increases the facility charges. It also comes with a longer recovery, adding indirect costs from time away from work.
Where You Live Matters
Prices for the same procedure vary substantially across the country. Hospital charges in major metropolitan areas, particularly in the Northeast and on the West Coast, tend to run higher than in the South or Midwest. Research has confirmed that geographic location is one of the strongest variables affecting hysterectomy cost. Even within the same city, two hospitals may charge very different facility fees. If you have flexibility in choosing your facility, requesting price estimates from multiple locations can save thousands of dollars.
The Hidden Cost: Recovery and Lost Income
The bill from the hospital is only part of what a hysterectomy costs. The median time to return to work is about 8 weeks, though the range is wide, from as few as 3 weeks to as many as 45 weeks depending on the surgical approach, the physical demands of your job, and how your body heals. Most surgeons advise no work for at least 6 weeks.
For someone earning $1,000 a week, eight weeks of missed work represents $8,000 in lost wages, potentially more than the surgery itself. If your employer offers short-term disability insurance, check whether it covers a portion of your income during recovery. Some states also have paid family and medical leave programs. Factor these costs into your planning early, ideally before you choose a surgery date.
You may also need to budget for follow-up appointments, prescription pain medication, and help at home during the first couple of weeks when lifting and driving are restricted.
Options if You’re Uninsured or Underinsured
If you don’t have insurance, you’re not necessarily stuck with the full sticker price. Most hospitals and surgical centers offer self-pay discounts, payment plans, or both. Ask the billing department directly, because these options aren’t always advertised.
Beyond discounts, many hospital systems run formal financial assistance (charity care) programs. Patients with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level often qualify for a full write-off of charges. Those earning between 200% and 400% of the poverty level may qualify for partial assistance, with the discount scaled to income. Some systems also offer special-circumstances assistance for patients who fall outside the standard income thresholds but still face hardship. You typically need to apply and provide documentation of your income before or shortly after the procedure.
Another option is to get a bundled cash-pay quote from an ambulatory surgical center. These facilities often offer a single all-inclusive price that covers the surgeon, anesthesia, and facility fee, and that price is frequently lower than what a hospital would charge even after a self-pay discount.