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Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal

Illinois rates for HCPCS 69540

Surgical removal of a soft tissue lesion — such as a cyst, polyp, or other growth — located in the external ear canal. The surgeon removes the growth, usually working through the ear canal itself without an outside incision, and the tissue may be sent to a lab for examination. It is used when a growth is causing blockage, discharge, hearing changes, or discomfort, or when the diagnosis needs to be confirmed.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal cost?

$224

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $224 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $200 from a physician practice, and about $1,047 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$200$151 to $282
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,047$363 to $2,291

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $269 to $3,715Professionalmedian $200 · 10th to 90th $123 to $372
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,047professional $200

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
$186.21
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$5,623.41
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$213.80
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$2,630.27
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$380.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$812.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$338.84
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$524.81
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$275.42
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$4,168.69
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$371.54
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
$57.54
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$38.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$28.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$134.90

Where Illinois sits

The same service costs 3.9 times more in Oklahoma than in Kentucky. 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.

Illinois· 30th of 51

$224

OK $646KY $166

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.