go back

X-ray Of The Esophagus (Barium Swallow)

Illinois rates for HCPCS 74220

This X-ray study captures images of the esophagus, the tube connecting the throat to the stomach, while the patient swallows a contrast liquid that outlines its inner lining on the images. It helps identify narrowing, blockages, abnormal pouches, or problems with the swallowing motion itself. The exam is typically performed in a radiology suite while the radiologist watches the swallowed contrast move down the esophagus in real time.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does X-ray Of The Esophagus (Barium Swallow) cost?

$102

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $102 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $97.72 from a physician practice, and about $219 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$97.72$75.86 to $141
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$219$138 to $316

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $219 · 10th to 90th $102 to $646Professionalmedian $98 · 10th to 90th $43 to $178
$50$100$200$500$1Kfacility $219professional $98

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
$81.28
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$275.42
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$199.53
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$102.33
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$114.82
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$912.01
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$208.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$645.65
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$158.49
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$45.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$114.82
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$302.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$154.88
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$177.83
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$125.89
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$467.74
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$177.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$56.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$123.03
3 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
$42.66
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$75.86

Where Illinois sits

The same service costs 3.8 times more in Alaska than in Utah. 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· 34th of 51

$102

AK $282UT $74.13

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.