Price Checker / CPT 33234
How much does Removal Of Pacemaker System cost?
CPT 33234 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 76x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$640–$1,300
What this should cost
With insurance
~$152,000
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,650
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $73,624 is $72,654 over the fair price (about 76x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Removal Of Pacemaker System
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center , CA | $201,091 | $90,491 | 46752% |
| John Muir Health Concord Medical Center , CA | $201,091 | $90,491 | 46752% |
| North Strand ER Myrtle Beach, SC | — | — | 30933% |
| UAB St. Vincent's Birmingham , AL | $70,636 | — | 16358% |
| Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital SULLIVAN, MO | $55,784 | $33,470 | 12897% |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown , TN | — | — | 4972% |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford , TN | — | — | 4972% |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Westlawn , TN | — | — | 4972% |
| Owensboro Health Regional Hospital Owensboro, KY | $6,082 | — | 1175% |
| Richardson Medical Center RAYVILLE, LA | $3,054 | $2,291 | 612% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Removal Of Pacemaker System
CPT code 33234 refers to removal of pacemaker system (billing description: "Removal of pacemaker system"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $429 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $429 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.