Ear irrigation cost in Houston, TX
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 40 hospitals list a cash price for earwax removal by irrigation (rinsing), one ear: from $33.36 to $306.00, with a median of $124.80. The lowest listed price is at Sweeny Community Hospital — $91.44 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $111.30 at 204 hospitals.
- The median here, $124.80, is 18% above the US median of $105.95.
- That is 2.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($60.27).
- Houston, TX ranks 2nd of 3 metro areas in Texas by median, cheapest first.
- 1 of 40 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 40 facilities across 16 cities for code 69209, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Sep 17, 2026.
Lowest$33.36Sweeny Community Hospital
Median$124.80half of hospitals charge less
Highest$306.00in this market
Difference9.2×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
median
Lowest $33.36Highest $3,511.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeny Community Hospital lowest Sweeny, TX · (979) 548-3311 Removal of impacted ear wax by washing File of Sep 8, 2026 · source file | $33.36 | $55.60 | $16.68–$55.60 | 40% |
| Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center one side Liberty, TX · (936) 336-7316 69209 Removal Impacted Cerumen Using Irrigation/lavage, Unilateral.+1 more line at this price source file | $34.00 | $48.00 | $29.00–$46.00 | 29% |
| Harris Health one side Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 ECHG PROC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX USING IRRIGATION/LAVAGE UNILATERAL+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $57.00 | $103.00 | $25.96–$82.40 | 45% |
| Harris Health one side Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 ECHG EC PROC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX USING IRRIGATION/LAVAGE UNILATERAL+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $57.00 | $103.00 | $25.96–$82.40 | 45% |
| Hsa St. Joseph one side Houston, TX · (713) 757-1000 REMOVE IMPACTD EAR WAX UNI RT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $58.31 | $704.03 | $56.27–$82.96 | 92% |
| CHI St. Luke's Health Springwood Village Spring, TX · (936) 266-4050 HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | $29.00–$2,749.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 637-7000 HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | $23.20–$2,749.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's the Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 266-4050 HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | $29.00–$2,749.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Lakeside Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 266-4055 HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | $23.20–$2,749.00 | 65% |
| St. Lukes Hospital at the Vintage Houston, TX · (832) 534-5000 HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | $23.20–$2,749.00 | 65% |
| CHI St. Luke's Health Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center Houston, TX · (832) 355-1000 HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | $31.90–$2,700.00 | 65% |
| Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center one side Houston, TX · (713) 242-3000 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center one side The Woodlands, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital one side Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital one side Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital one side Sugar Land, TX · (281) 725-5000 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital one side Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital one side Humble, TX · (281) 540-7700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital one side Pearland, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Tirr Memorial Hermann one side Houston, TX HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital one side Katy, TX · (281) 392-1111 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $124.80 | $390.00 | — | 68% |
| Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center one side Liberty, TX · (936) 336-7316 69209 Removal Of Impacted Cerumen By Irrigation/lavage, Unilateral source file | $125.00 | $178.00 | $107.00–$169.00 | 30% |
| Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital one side Houston, TX HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Texas Medical Center) one side Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Cypress) one side Cypress, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Upper Kirby) one side Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Bellaire) one side Bellaire, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Rockets Orthopedic Hospital one side Bellaire, TX HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital one side Cypress, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center one side Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.68 | $517.75 | — | 68% |
| Elite Hospital Kingwood one side Kingwood, TX · (832) 777-6165 Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage unilateral File of Sep 17, 2026 · source file | $167.88 | $335.76 | $32.31–$43.08 | 50% |
| Sweeny Community Hospital Sweeny, TX · (979) 548-3311 Removal of impacted ear wax by washing File of Sep 8, 2026 · source file | $186.00 | $310.00 | $93.00–$425.00 | 40% |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $206.00 | $412.00 | — | 50% |
| Shriners Childrens Texas Galveston, TX · (409) 770-6600 REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $254.20 | $254.20 | $37.81–$988.00 | — |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC EAR REMOVAL IRRIGATION UNILATE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $306.00 | $612.00 | — | 50% |
| Hsa St. Joseph Houston, TX · (713) 757-1000 REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $3,511.00 | — | $3,388.12–$5,015.37 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $33.36, median $124.80, highest $306.00 — a 9.2× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 37 facilities here, median $165.68. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 12 of 13 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. 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 ear irrigation is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Ear irrigation explained.