A camera is passed through a small incision between the ribs into the chest, and tissue samples are taken from a diffuse hazy area of lung on one side. It is used when scans show widespread shadowing rather than a discrete lump, and the cause, whether infection, inflammation, or scarring, has to be identified. Taking tissue directly gives a far more reliable answer than a needle sample.
Rates data updated July 2026.
How much does Keyhole Chest Biopsy of a Hazy Area of Lung cost?
$10,000
Typical facility fee. In South Carolina, July 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $10,000 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $4,467 to $16,596.
These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $10,000 · 10th to 90th $363 to $21,878
Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.
Rates by insurance carrier
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$11,748.98
Typical High
$22,908.68
Facility
Global
$363.08
$11,748.98
$22,908.68
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$8,912.51
Typical High
$14,791.08
Facility
Global
$3,548.13
$8,912.51
$14,791.08
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$707.95
Facility
Global
$295.12
$416.87
$707.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8,511.38
Median
$16,982.44
Typical High
$32,359.37
Facility
Global
$8,511.38
$16,982.44
$32,359.37
Where South Carolina sits
The same service costs 72.4 times more in Maine than in North Dakota. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.