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Thymus Removal Through the Chest

Alabama rates for HCPCS 60521

Removal of all or part of the thymus, a small gland that sits behind the breastbone, reached by splitting the breastbone or opening the chest. This is the version done without a wide clearance of the surrounding tissue in the space between the lungs. It is most often done for myasthenia gravis or for a growth in the gland.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Thymus Removal Through the Chest cost?

$8,874

Typical total for the visit. In Alabama, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8,874 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,288 to the doctor who performs it, and $7,586 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,288$1,122 to $2,089
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$7,586$955 to $7,586

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7,586 · 10th to 90th $513 to $7,586Professionalmedian $1,288 · 10th to 90th $977 to $2,089
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $7,586professional $1,288

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
$776.25
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,949.84
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,089.30
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7,585.78
Median
$7,585.78
Typical High
$7,585.78
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,089.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,344.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$3,801.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$1,819.70
6 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
$1,047.13
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,047.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$416.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$1,548.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$309.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,445.44

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 15.4 times more in Maine than in Maryland. 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

Alabama· 6th of 51

$8,874

$1,288 physician + $7,586 facility

ME $28,500MD $1,851

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.