How much does tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12 cost in Denver, CO?
CPT 42820 — the fair price, every hospital's price, and the Medicare benchmark for Denver, CO.
| Facility | Type | Price | vs Medicare | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital (Lakewood) lowest ⚠ likely error | Hospital | $286negotiated | 0.0× | ★★★★★ |
| Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora) ⚠ likely error | Hospital | $371negotiated | 0.1× | — |
| UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital | Hospital | $5,515negotiated | 0.9× | ★★★★★ |
| UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora) | Hospital | $5,945negotiated | 1.0× | ★★★★★ |
| Denver Health Medical Center (Denver) | Hospital | $6,245negotiated | 1.1× | ★★★★★ |
| HCA HealthONE Swedish (Englewood) | Hospital | $6,381negotiated | 1.1× | ★★★★★ |
| HCA HealthONE Rose (Denver) | Hospital | $6,381negotiated | 1.1× | ★★★★★ |
| HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge (Lone Tree) | Hospital | $6,381negotiated | 1.1× | ★★★★★ |
| HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's (Denver) | Hospital | $6,381negotiated | 1.1× | ★★★★★ |
| Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver) | Hospital | $7,200negotiated | 1.2× | ★★★★★ |
| Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Wheat Ridge) | Hospital | $7,200negotiated | 1.2× | ★★★★★ |
| Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital (Brighton) | Hospital | $9,838negotiated | 1.7× | ★★★★★ |
| AdventHealth Parker | Hospital | $15,563cash | 2.6× | ★★★★★ |
| AdventHealth Littleton | Hospital | $15,563cash | 2.6× | ★★★★★ |
| AdventHealth Castle Rock | Hospital | $15,563cash | 2.6× | ★★★★★ |
| AdventHealth Porter (Denver) | Hospital | $15,563cash | 2.6× | ★★★★★ |
- For 42820 (Tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12), Medicare's benchmark rate is $5,915.66. A fair self-pay target for this line is $11,831.32. If I was charged more than that, please reduce it toward this benchmark.
- Your own published cash / self-pay price for 42820 is $15,563.00, and negotiated rates at nearby facilities run $6,020.02–$14,131.75. Please apply a rate in that range to my bill rather than the gross charge.
- Please send a fully itemized bill listing every CPT/HCPCS/DRG code and its individual charge, so I can review each line against published rates.
- Separately, what is your financial assistance / charity care policy, and am I eligible? Please send me the application and the income thresholds.
What should 42820 cost in Denver, CO?
For tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12 (CPT 42820) in Denver, CO, a fair self-pay price is around $6,790, with hospitals ranging from $6,020 to $14,132 across 16 facilities. Medicare's benchmark rate is $5,916, the floor to negotiate toward. The card above lists each hospital's price, cheapest first, with CMS quality stars.
Frequently asked questions
How much does tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12 cost in Denver, CO?
A fair self-pay price for tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12 (CPT 42820) in Denver, CO is around $6,790, with hospital prices ranging from $6,020 to $14,132 across 16 facilities. These are estimates from hospital-published prices, not a guarantee.
What is the Medicare rate for CPT 42820?
Medicare pays about $5,916 for tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12 (CPT 42820). That's the negotiation floor — a fair cash-pay target is roughly 1.5–2× it, well below typical gross charges.
Can I negotiate the price of tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy, under 12?
Yes. Under the federal Hospital Price Transparency rule hospitals must publish these rates, so you can ask to pay the cash or negotiated rate instead of the gross charge. Paste your bill on the home page for a ready-to-send appeal letter and the exact numbers to cite.
Got a bill for this?
If you were charged more than the fair price, you can usually negotiate it down. Paste your itemized bill to get a personalized appeal letter, the exact numbers to cite, an AI negotiation coach, and a charity-care eligibility check — free.
Compare other procedures in Denver, CO
Prices last refreshed September 2026 from each hospital's official CMS machine-readable file. Medicare rate: CY2025 OPPS/PFS/CLFS. Estimates only — not a guarantee.