Ear irrigation cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 66 hospitals publish a cash price for earwax removal by irrigation (rinsing), one ear: from $10.40 to $384.46, with a median of $69.19. The lowest price is at Story County Hospital (Nevada). The highest price is 37.0× the lowest.
- The median here, $69.19, is 35% below the US median of $105.95.
- That is 1.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($60.27).
- Iowa ranks 9th of 49 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 66 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 69209. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 5, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$10.40Story County Hospital
Median$69.19half of hospitals charge less
Highest$384.46in Iowa
Lowest saves$58.79vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story County Hospital lowest Nevada · Ames, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $10.40 | $13.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital one side Spencer · Spencer, IA Remove Impacted Cerumen RT | $15.75 | $21.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $22.50 | $30.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Knoxville · Pella, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $27.00 | $45.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $28.20 | $47.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health one side Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $29.10 | $30.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $32.00 | $32.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Guttenberg · Guttenberg, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $32.80 | $41.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $34.40 | $43.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $37.20 | $62.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $37.70 | $65.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $39.00 | $75.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| Adair County Memorial Hospital Greenfield · Greenfield, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $41.25 | $55.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| Audubon County Memorial Hospital Audubon · Audubon, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $45.00 | $45.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ER-REMOVE IMP EAR WAX 1-2 EARS BY IRRIGA | $46.00 | $70.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $46.00 | $46.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center one side Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Removal Ceremun Impacted Irrigation Lt | $46.15 | $71.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $46.40 | $58.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC REM IMP EAR WAX IRR/LAV UNI | $47.73 | $111.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $52.93 | $79.00 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $54.00 | $72.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $54.00 | $72.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Hawarden Regional Healthcare one side Harwarden · Harwarden, IA REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRR/LAV UNILAT | $54.70 | $64.35 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA Removal impacted cerumen w irrigation/lavage unila | $55.20 | $184.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $55.30 | $79.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $56.00 | $100.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic one side West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 69209 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LAVAGE UNILATERAL | $58.81 | $99.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC REM IMP EAR WAX IRR/LAV UNI | $60.30 | $134.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $60.40 | $151.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital one side Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $63.65 | $67.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC REM IMP EAR WAX IRR/LAV UNI | $67.00 | $134.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton one side New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Removal Ceremun Impacted Irrigation Lt | $67.60 | $104.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center one side Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Removal Ceremun Impacted Irrigation Lt | $67.60 | $104.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $70.77 | $88.46 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $74.00 | $74.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $76.80 | $96.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center one side Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Removal Ceremun Impacted Irrigation Lt | $79.95 | $123.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $81.90 | $117.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia Waukon · Waukon, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $88.92 | $156.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $89.60 | $112.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Loring Hospital Sac City · Sac City, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $91.20 | $114.00 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital one side Estherville · Estherville, IA | $94.09 | $97.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS REMOVE IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIG/LAVAGE | $96.00 | $160.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $98.40 | $123.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $101.00 | $127.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $102.20 | $127.75 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $110.92 | $138.64 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS REMOVE IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIG/LAVAGE | $116.40 | $194.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA GHS REMOVE IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIG/LAVAGE | $116.40 | $194.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Gay Hospital Vinton · Cedar Rapids, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $118.40 | $148.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni | $119.00 | $119.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA ED 69209 RMVL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION LAVAGE UNI | $132.00 | $165.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Removal of impacted ear wax by washing | $134.26 | $167.82 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center Sumner · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $140.00 | $175.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee · Cherokee, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $141.30 | $157.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $143.96 | $179.94 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grundy County Memorial Hospital Grundy Center · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $149.60 | $187.00 | Jun 29, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $157.08 | $196.34 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $157.08 | $196.34 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $170.38 | $212.97 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $170.38 | $212.97 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $177.04 | $221.29 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $206.90 | $258.62 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN BY IRRIGATION/LAVAGE | $237.30 | $339.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN BY IRRIGATION/LAVAGE | $237.30 | $339.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $384.46 | $480.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 5 | $39.00 | $140.00 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $34.40 | $82.50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $96.00 | $116.40 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $22.50 | $237.30 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $47.73 | $55.20 |
| Ames, IA | 2 | $10.40 | $72.33 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $46.00 | $49.46 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | $118.40 | $131.18 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $46.40 | $46.40 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $81.90 | $81.90 |
| Audubon, IA | 1 | $45.00 | $45.00 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $28.20 | $28.20 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $54.00 | $54.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $206.90 | $206.90 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $60.40 | $60.40 |
| Cherokee, IA | 1 | $141.30 | $141.30 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $54.00 | $54.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $60.30 | $60.30 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $74.00 | $74.00 |
| Clinton, IA | 1 | $116.40 | $116.40 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $55.30 | $55.30 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $89.60 | $89.60 |
| Dubuque, IA | 1 | $177.04 | $177.04 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $67.60 | $67.60 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $94.09 | $94.09 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $37.20 | $37.20 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $110.92 | $110.92 |
| Greenfield, IA | 1 | $41.25 | $41.25 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $102.20 | $102.20 |
| Guttenberg, IA | 1 | $32.80 | $32.80 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $37.70 | $37.70 |
| Harwarden, IA | 1 | $54.70 | $54.70 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $32.00 | $32.00 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $56.00 | $56.00 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $101.00 | $101.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $157.08 | $157.08 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $46.15 | $46.15 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $170.38 | $170.38 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $67.60 | $67.60 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $76.80 | $76.80 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $27.00 | $27.00 |
| Sac City, IA | 1 | $91.20 | $91.20 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $132.00 | $132.00 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $29.10 | $29.10 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $70.77 | $70.77 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $15.75 | $15.75 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $63.65 | $63.65 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $98.40 | $98.40 |
| Waukon, IA | 1 | $88.92 | $88.92 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $58.81 | $58.81 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What ear irrigation is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Ear irrigation explained.
Earwax removal by irrigation (rinsing), one ear in other states
- Alabama$99.59
- Alaska$91.26
- Arizona$440.63
- Arkansas$54.00
- California$177.52
- Colorado$122.01
- Connecticut$115.80
- Delaware$246.96
- District of Columbia$187.73, 3 hospitals
- Florida$188.65
- Georgia$102.60
- Hawaii$219.80
- Idaho$111.80
- Illinois$115.44
- Indiana$175.80
- Kansas$97.16
- Kentucky$104.70
- Louisiana$76.59
- Maine$51.10
- Maryland$35.54, 2 hospitals
- Massachusetts$208.00
- Michigan$101.90
- Minnesota$77.42
- Mississippi$56.80
- Missouri$110.50
- Montana$43.90
- Nebraska$63.38
- Nevada$84.50
- New Hampshire$71.82
- New Jersey$372.02
- New Mexico$132.60
- New York$121.00
- North Carolina$106.20
- North Dakota$60.80
- Ohio$154.70
- Oklahoma$61.80
- Oregon$77.73
- Pennsylvania$139.80
- Puerto Rico$50.50, 2 hospitals
- Rhode Island$179.83
- South Carolina$117.50
- South Dakota$163.60
- Tennessee$45.30
- Texas$111.30
- Utah$164.64
- Vermont$99.50
- Virginia$97.50
- Washington$111.36
- West Virginia$84.25
- Wisconsin$88.31
- Wyoming$91.00
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.