Price Checker / CPT 69120
How much does Removal Of External Ear cost?
CPT 69120 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 11x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$540–$1,100
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,250
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,400
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $9,026 is $8,206 over the fair price (about 11x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Removal Of External Ear
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook University Hospital , NY | $6,624 | — | 20978% |
| UPMC Green , PA | — | — | 3068% |
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 External Ear
CPT code 69120 refers to removal of external ear (billing description: "Removal of external ear"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $361 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $361 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.