Medicare covers various methods of kidney stone removal if a doctor considers it medically necessary. However, a person will usually have to pay out-of-pocket costs.
Kidney stones can be extremely painful and may cause kidney infections or affect kidney function without treatment. Smaller stones may not require treatment, but doctors often recommend removing larger stones or stones that obstruct urine flow.
Medicare may cover the following methods of kidney stone removal:
- percutaneous nephrolithotomy and nephrolithotripsy
- ureteroscopy
- lithotripsy
- shock wave lithotripsy
Read more about kidney stone surgery.
If kidney stone removal takes place in the hospital, Medicare Part A will pay for the procedure once the person has paid the deductible for their hospital stay. The Part A inpatient hospital deductible for 2025 is $1,676.
If doctors remove kidney stones in an outpatient procedure, meaning a person can return home the same day, Medicare Part B pays toward the cost. Part B also covers doctor visits and imaging scans.
A person must pay the annual Part B deductible of $257 in 2025 and 20% toward the cost of outpatient services and treatments. Medicare covers the remaining 80% of the costs.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must provide at least the same coverage as Original Medicare (parts A and B). They may also provide additional benefits, such as covering a percentage of the Part B deductible.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
The cost of kidney stone removal depends on the type of procedure and the treatment setting.
The average cost for kidney stone removal, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy, from a single location in the urinary system is:
- $1,045 in an ambulatory surgical center
- $1,768 in the hospital outpatient department
For shockwave lithotripsy, the average cost is:
- $437 in an ambulatory surgical center
- $776 in a hospital outpatient department
However, these prices do not include doctors’ fees.
If a doctor recommends kidney stone removal, a person can discuss their out-of-pocket costs with the doctor and their insurance provider.
Learn about Medicare’s coverage of doctor visits.