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Implanting A Defibrillator With Leads Via A Vein

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 33249

Puts in, or replaces, an implantable defibrillator — a device that watches the heart rhythm and delivers pacing or a shock if a dangerous fast rhythm starts. One or two leads are threaded through a vein under the collarbone into the heart and connected to a generator placed in a pocket under the skin. It covers both a first implant and a full system replacement.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Implanting A Defibrillator With Leads Via A Vein cost?

$32,452

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $32,452 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,549 to the doctor who performs it, and $30,903 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,549$1,175 to $1,995
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$30,903$7,413 to $45,709

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $30,903 · 10th to 90th $891 to $50,119Professionalmedian $1,549 · 10th to 90th $933 to $2,512
$500$2K$10K$50Kfacility $30,903professional $1,549

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$15,135.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$1,819.70
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,819.70
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,897.79
Median
$7,762.47
Typical High
$19,498.45
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$35,481.34
Typical High
$48,977.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$2,454.71
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$47,863.01
Typical High
$48,977.88
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,949.84
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$28,840.32
Typical High
$74,131.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$2,454.71
8 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$575.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$229.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$794.33
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$15,488.17
Median
$24,547.09
Typical High
$36,307.81
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,288.25

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 19.9 times more in Alaska than in Montana. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

North Carolina· 9th of 51

$32,452

$1,549 physician + $30,903 facility

AK $53,750MT $2,699

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.