Tonsils and adenoids removal (under age 12) in Denver, CO costs $15,563. Here's every hospital's price.
4 hospitals in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area publish a cash price for tonsils and adenoids removal (under age 12) (CPT 42820). We read their files every month so you don't have to.
Across the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, 4 hospitals list a cash price for tonsils and adenoids removal (under age 12) (CPT 42820). The lowest is $15,563 at Adventhealth Porter, the median is $15,563 and the highest is $15,563 at Adventhealth Castle Rock.
The Denver, CO median of $15,563 is 260% above the national median of $4,321 across 446 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.
9 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $236 to $18,067. With insurance you pay a share of the negotiated rate, which is sometimes higher than the cash price; you may ask for the cash price instead.
The files behind these prices are dated between February 2026 and April 2026. 13 other hospitals in the metro area have no readable price for this code: some publish no file, some block automated reading, some leave the code out. They are listed below so you can call them.
Sorted by cash price
Hospital facility fee onlyDenver · 17 mi · File Apr 2026
Littleton · 11 mi · File Apr 2026
Parker · 11 mi · File Apr 2026
Castle Rock · 2 mi · File Apr 2026
Denver · 21 mi · File Apr 2026
Lakewood · 23 mi · File Feb 2026
Westminster · 36 mi · File Feb 2026
Lakewood · 23 mi · File Feb 2026
What's in the price
The hospital facility fee for CPT 42820. The doctor, anesthesia and lab work usually bill separately.
Cash vs. insured
Cash is what you pay without insurance. With insurance you pay a share of the negotiated rate, which can be higher than cash. You may ask for the cash price.
What to say on the phone
"I'd like the self-pay price for CPT 42820, in writing, and whether it covers facility, physician and anesthesia."
About tonsils and adenoids removal (under age 12)
CPT 42820 is removal of the tonsils and adenoids in a child under 12, done for repeated throat infections or, more often today, for sleep-disordered breathing. It is an outpatient operation under general anesthesia, about 30 to 45 minutes, with one to two weeks of sore throat afterward.
What the price covers
The hospital's price is the facility fee for the operating room, anesthesia equipment, nursing, supplies and recovery. The ENT surgeon and the anesthesiologist bill separately. Children with sleep apnea or under three are sometimes kept overnight, which adds an observation charge.
Why prices vary
Children's hospitals and academic centers list the highest prices for this operation; community hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers list lower. The spread within a metro area is commonly three to five times for the facility fee alone.
Questions to ask
- What is the self-pay price for 42820, and what do surgeon and anesthesia add?
- Will my child need to stay overnight, and what does that cost?
- Can it be done at an ambulatory surgery center?
Hospitals in Denver, CO without a price for this procedure
Listed so you know who to call. The reason is what we found on their website.
- HCA Healthone Mountain RidgeNo price file found
- HCA Healthone Presbyterian St. LukesNo website on record
- HCA Healthone RoseNo price file found
- HCA-Healthone Dba Swedish Medical CenterNo price file found
- Intermountain Health Lutheran HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Intermountain Health Platte Valley HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- National Jewish Healthcode not in file
- Saint Joseph HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Sky Ridge Medical CenterNo price file found
- The Medical Center of Aurora & South HospitalNo price file found
- Uchealth Broomfield HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Uchealth Highlands Ranch HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- University of Colorado Hospital AuthorityWebsite blocks automated reading