Tonsils and adenoids removal (under age 12) in St. Louis, MO-IL costs $4,030 to $5,909. Here's every hospital's price.
3 hospitals in the St. Louis, MO-IL 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 St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, 3 hospitals list a cash price for tonsils and adenoids removal (under age 12) (CPT 42820). The lowest is $4,030 at Mercy Hospital South, the median is $5,813 and the highest is $5,909 at Mercy Hospital Washington.
The St. Louis, MO-IL median of $5,813 is 35% above the national median of $4,321 across 446 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.
10 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $243 to $13,341. 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 March 2026 and June 2026. 24 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 onlySaint Louis · 16 mi · File Jun 2026
Saint Louis · 8 mi · File Jun 2026
Washington · 38 mi · File Jun 2026
Saint Louis · 8 mi · File Apr 2026
Bridgeton · 5 mi · File Apr 2026
Saint Louis · 10 mi · File Apr 2026
Lake Saint Louis · 24 mi · File Apr 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 St. Louis, MO-IL without a price for this procedure
Listed so you know who to call. The reason is what we found on their website.
- Alton Memorial HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Anderson HospitalFile could not be read
- Barnes Jewish HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Barnes-Jewish St Peters HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Barnes-Jewish West County HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Carlinville Area HospitalNo website on record
- Christian Hospital NortheastWebsite blocks automated reading
- Community Hospital of StauntonNo website on record
- Gateway Regional Medical CenterWebsite blocks automated reading
- Hshs Holy Family Hospital INCcode not in file
- Jersey Community HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Memorial HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Mercy Hospital Jeffersoncode not in file
- Mercy Hospital Lincolncode not in file
- Missouri Baptist Medical CenterWebsite blocks automated reading
- Missouri Baptist Sullivan HospitalNo website on record
- Progress West HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospitalcode not in file
- Red Bud Regional HospitalNo website on record
- Shriners Hospitals for Childrencode not in file
- St Joseph's HospitalNo website on record
- St Louis Childrens HospitalWebsite blocks automated reading
- St Lukes HospitalNo price file found
- Touchette Regional Hospital INCcode not in file