How Much Does Insertion or Replacement of Permanent Implantable Defibrillator System Cost?
Insertion or replacement of a permanent implantable defibrillator system is a surgical procedure to implant a device that monitors heart rhythm and delivers electrical shocks to correct life-threatening arrhythmias. This is performed to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in patients at high risk.
💡 The doctor's Medicare fee is $802 — that's what the physician receives. Hospital/facility charges are separate.
What does Implantable Defibrillator cost where you live?
Prices vary by location. Pick your city to see local hospital prices.
Why do some cities cost 3–4× more than others?
Most of the difference is hospital pricing, not the medicine. The procedure itself is essentially the same everywhere — what changes is what the facility charges:
- Hospitals set their own prices. There's no national price for a procedure, so two hospitals — even in the same city — can charge wildly different amounts for identical care.
- Local costs differ. Wages, rent, and malpractice insurance are far higher in big metros (e.g. San Francisco, New York) than in smaller cities. Medicare adjusts the doctor's fee for this, but only modestly; hospital charges swing much more.
- Competition matters. In areas with few hospitals or one dominant health system, prices tend to run higher. Competitive markets push them down.
- Insurer contracts vary by region, which moves both the negotiated and cash prices.
💡 Because the difference is mostly pricing power — not quality — it's worth comparing hospitals and asking for the cash/self-pay rate, which is often far below the list price.
Hospitals in
| Hospital | Median price | Range |
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Prices from the Hospital Price Transparency Act. Median = middle price across insurers at that hospital.
Common Questions
How much does Implantable Defibrillator cost?
Does Medicare cover Implantable Defibrillator?
How much does it cost without insurance?
Why is the price so different between hospitals?
Why does Implantable Defibrillator cost so much more in some cities than others?
What should I ask before scheduling?
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