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X-ray Of The Esophagus (Barium Swallow)

Virginia 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?

$105

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $105 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $105 from a physician practice, and about $135 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$105$87.10 to $120
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$135$69.18 to $240

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $135 · 10th to 90th $35 to $380Professionalmedian $105 · 10th to 90th $74 to $151
$20$50$100$200$500facility $135professional $105

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
$87.10
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$162.18
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$47.86
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$112.20
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$489.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$134.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$38.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$112.20
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$109.65
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$30.90
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$100.00
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$169.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$50.12
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$120.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$138.04
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$39.81
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$97.72
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$109.65
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$40.74
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$173.78
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$117.49
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$309.03
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$204.17
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$56.23
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$154.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$812.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$173.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$51.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$123.03
4 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
$43.65
Typical High
$47.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$19.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$75.86
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
27 · Multiple hospital visits
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$70.79

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 29th of 51

$105

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.