Thoracentesis cost in Edwards, CO — inpatient
In Edwards, CO, 1 hospital lists a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance as an inpatient: from $375.00 to $375.00, with a median of $375.00. Across Colorado, the median is $2,152.00 at 23 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 32555, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Aug 5, 2026 and Aug 5, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Edwards, CO.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vail Health Hospital lowest Vail, CO · (970) 476-2451 US Thoracentesis | $375.00 | $500.00 | $318.45–$708.71 | 25% | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Vail Health Hospital Vail, CO · (970) 476-2451 32555 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/IMAGING | $702.00 | $936.00 | $318.45–$851.76 | 25% | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Vail Health Hospital Vail, CO · (970) 476-2451 Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $1,554.00 | $2,072.00 | $318.45–$1,885.52 | 25% | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $375.00, median $375.00, highest $375.00.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $375.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
Thoracentesis removes fluid from around the lungs with a needle, using ultrasound to guide it.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure and guidance. Lab tests on the fluid are billed separately.