Price Checker / CPT 42821
How much does Remove Tonsils And Adenoids cost?
CPT 42821 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 21x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$410–$820
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,400
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,050
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $13,239 is $12,619 over the fair price (about 21x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Remove Tonsils And Adenoids
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital SOMERSET, CO | $22,496 | — | 8164% |
| Los Alamos Medical Center LOS ALAMOS, NY | $20,185 | — | 7315% |
| Georgetown Community Hospital GEORGETOWN, KY | $18,151 | — | 6568% |
| Meadowview Regional Medical Center MAYSVILLE, KY | $17,368 | — | 6280% |
| Doylestown Health , PA | $19,808 | — | 5357% |
| Spring View Hospital LEBANON, KY | $12,951 | — | 4658% |
| Castleview Hospital PRICE, UT | $12,840 | — | 4617% |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BRENHAM Brenham, TX | — | — | 4486% |
| Bourbon Community Hospital PARIS, KY | $11,974 | — | 4299% |
| LifeBrite Community Hospital of Stokes DANBURY, NC | $10,041 | — | 3220% |
| Troy Regional Medical Center TROY, AL | $7,437 | — | 2632% |
| Northern Itasca Hospital District , MN | $4,880 | $3,465 | 1693% |
| Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital , WV | $1,487 | $744 | 446% |
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 Remove Tonsils And Adenoids
CPT code 42821 refers to remove tonsils and adenoids (billing description: "Remove tonsils and adenoids"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $272 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $272 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.