At what age should I get my first colonoscopy?

The American Cancer Society recommends average-risk adults begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. If you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, your gastroenterologist may recommend starting earlier, typically 10 years before the age your relative was diagnosed.

What is the difference between an EGD and a colonoscopy?

An EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) examines the upper digestive tract — esophagus, stomach, and duodenum — and is used for symptoms like chronic heartburn, difficulty swallowing, or stomach pain. A colonoscopy examines the large intestine and is primarily used for colon cancer screening and evaluating lower GI symptoms like rectal bleeding or chronic diarrhea.

Do I need a referral to see a gastroenterologist?

On OpenDoc, no referral is needed. You can book directly with a cash-pay gastroenterologist. In the insurance world, many HMO plans require a primary care referral, but cash-pay patients bypass this entirely, often getting seen weeks sooner.

What is a FibroScan and how much does it cost?

A FibroScan is a non-invasive ultrasound-based test that measures liver stiffness to assess fibrosis (scarring) and steatosis (fat). It takes about 15 minutes and costs $150–$400 cash-pay on OpenDoc. It's a painless alternative to liver biopsy for monitoring conditions like fatty liver disease and hepatitis.

How long does a colonoscopy take from start to finish?

The colonoscopy procedure itself takes 30–45 minutes. However, you should plan for 2–3 hours total at the facility to account for check-in, IV placement, sedation, the procedure, and recovery. You will need someone to drive you home afterward due to sedation.

What is capsule endoscopy used for?

Capsule endoscopy involves swallowing a pill-sized camera that photographs your entire small intestine over 8 hours. It's primarily used to find sources of obscure GI bleeding, diagnose Crohn's disease in the small bowel, and detect small bowel tumors — areas that standard endoscopy and colonoscopy cannot reach.

Can I get a same-day colonoscopy and EGD?

Yes, many gastroenterologists perform both procedures during a single sedation session when clinically indicated. On OpenDoc, bundled pricing for a combined EGD and colonoscopy typically ranges from $1,800 to $3,500, which is often cheaper than scheduling them separately.

Specialty & subspecialties

Gastroenterology

Transparent pricing for digestive health — from screenings to advanced liver care

1 subspecialties

16 visit types

$50–$3,500 estimated cash-pay pricing

Gastroenterology on OpenDoc delivers upfront cash pricing for colonoscopies, endoscopies, and liver evaluations — services where hospital pricing varies by over 400%. The average cash-pay colonoscopy on OpenDoc costs $1,200–$2,500, compared to surprise bills that can exceed $4,000 at facility-based centers. Patients get price-locked GI care with no hidden facility fees or anesthesia surprises.

Not sure where to start? Begin with General Gastroenterology Evaluation and OpenDoc will keep the specialty, visit type, and price aligned before anything happens.

Cash-pay context

Why pricing transparency matters here

Colonoscopies and endoscopies are among the most price-opaque procedures in American healthcare. Facility fees, anesthesia charges, and pathology bills arrive separately — often months later. Cash-pay GI care on OpenDoc bundles everything into one transparent price, frequently saving patients 30–50% versus insurance-billed facility rates.

Subspecialties

Choose the right path inside Gastroenterology

Each card represents a distinct focused path inside the specialty. This is the big shift from the old browse page: the user gets routing context before they ever hit a provider profile.

Transplant Hepatology

From $300

Transplant hepatologists manage advanced liver disease and evaluate patients for liver transplantation. They specialize in pre-transplant optimization, post-transplant immunosuppression management, and complex cirrhosis care including portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance.

Cirrhosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Explore care path

8 visit types

When you usually need this specialty

Common concerns that lead patients into Gastroenterology

Chronic heartburn and acid reflux (GERD)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)

Abnormal liver function tests

Chronic diarrhea or constipation

Colon polyps and colorectal cancer screening

H. pylori infection

Hepatitis B and C

Fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH)

Celiac disease and food intolerances

Common care paths

How Gastroenterology is organized on OpenDoc

GI Evaluation (New Patient)

GI Evaluation (New Patient) is a common gastroenterology entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.

Evaluation

45 min

$200 – $400

GI Follow-Up Visit

GI Follow-Up Visit is a common gastroenterology entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.

Evaluation

20 min

$125 – $250

Screening Colonoscopy

Screening Colonoscopy is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.

Procedure

45 min

$1,200 – $2,500

Diagnostic Colonoscopy with Biopsy

Diagnostic Colonoscopy with Biopsy is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.

Procedure

60 min

$1,500 – $3,000

Upper Endoscopy (EGD)

Upper Endoscopy (EGD) is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.

Procedure

30 min

$1,000 – $2,200

Capsule Endoscopy

Capsule Endoscopy is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.

Procedure

8 hrs (passive)

$1,500 – $3,200

Routing guide

How the subspecialties differ

Care path	Choose this route when…	Why OpenDoc separates it
Transplant Hepatology	Chronic liver disease or cirrhosis	Specialized in advanced liver failure management and transplant evaluation pathways
Transplant Hepatology	Post-liver transplant follow-up	Manages immunosuppression regimens and monitors for rejection and recurrent disease
Transplant Hepatology	Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance	Coordinates cancer screening within the transplant candidacy framework

Common services & estimated pricing

Review common visit types, transparent cash-pay estimates, and how the care path changes before you move into provider selection.

Service	Type	Duration	Estimated price
GI Evaluation (New Patient) GI Evaluation (New Patient) is a common gastroenterology entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.	Evaluation	45 min	$200 – $400
GI Follow-Up Visit GI Follow-Up Visit is a common gastroenterology entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.	Evaluation	20 min	$125 – $250
Screening Colonoscopy Screening Colonoscopy is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.	Procedure	45 min	$1,200 – $2,500
Diagnostic Colonoscopy with Biopsy Diagnostic Colonoscopy with Biopsy is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.	Procedure	60 min	$1,500 – $3,000
Upper Endoscopy (EGD) Upper Endoscopy (EGD) is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.	Procedure	30 min	$1,000 – $2,200
Capsule Endoscopy Capsule Endoscopy is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.	Procedure	8 hrs (passive)	$1,500 – $3,200
Liver Biopsy (Percutaneous) Liver Biopsy (Percutaneous) is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.	Procedure	30 min + recovery	$1,800 – $3,500
H. Pylori Breath Test H. Pylori Breath Test is a diagnostic gastroenterology service used to clarify the condition before treatment decisions are made.	Testing	20 min	$75 – $200
FibroScan (Transient Elastography) FibroScan (Transient Elastography) is a common gastroenterology entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.	Imaging	15 min	$150 – $400
Hemorrhoid Banding Hemorrhoid Banding is a procedure-oriented gastroenterology service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.	Procedure	15 min	$300 – $800
Esophageal pH Monitoring Esophageal pH Monitoring is a diagnostic gastroenterology service used to clarify the condition before treatment decisions are made.	Testing	24 hrs (passive)	$400 – $900
Esophageal Manometry Esophageal Manometry is a diagnostic gastroenterology service used to clarify the condition before treatment decisions are made.	Testing	30 min	$500 – $1,000
Hepatitis Panel (Lab) Hepatitis Panel (Lab) is a diagnostic gastroenterology service used to clarify the condition before treatment decisions are made.	Testing	Blood draw	$50 – $150
Celiac Disease Panel (Lab) Celiac Disease Panel (Lab) is a diagnostic gastroenterology service used to clarify the condition before treatment decisions are made.	Testing	Blood draw	$50 – $125

Pricing methodology: Pricing estimates are modeled from the current OpenDoc specialty taxonomy, visit archetypes, and transparent cash-pay assumptions. Posted provider pricing should be treated as the source of truth whenever it is available.

Last updated: April 8, 2026

Start here

General Gastroenterology Evaluation

Start with a general gastroenterology evaluation if you want the provider to confirm the right care path before you move deeper into the specialty.

Why subspecialty matters

Why OpenDoc separates these care paths instead of collapsing them

Focused training matters

Specialties often branch into narrower care paths. Seeing them clearly helps patients choose providers with training that actually matches the problem.

Prices match the care path

A sports medicine visit, a spine evaluation, and a tumor consult are not the same visit. OpenDoc keeps pricing attached to the path, not just the umbrella specialty.

Less guesswork before booking

Patients should understand the likely route before they see provider cards. That lowers false starts and makes the next step into provider search feel clearer.

Better provider fit

This page keeps specialty, subspecialty, common visit types, and price context aligned so users can move into provider selection with more confidence.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

A cash-pay colonoscopy on OpenDoc typically ranges from $1,200 to $2,500, which includes the facility fee, physician fee, and sedation. This is a bundled, transparent price — unlike hospital-based colonoscopies that often result in separate bills from the facility, anesthesiologist, and pathologist that can total $4,000+.

Local discovery

Explore gastroenterology by city

Austin, TX Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Denver, CO Houston, TX Los Angeles, CA Miami, FL Nashville, TN New York, NY Phoenix, AZ Seattle, WA

Related specialties

General Surgery

Surgical management of gallbladder disease, hernias, and colorectal conditions

Explore specialty

Medical Oncology

Manages GI cancers including colorectal, esophageal, and hepatocellular carcinoma

Explore specialty

Laboratory

Blood work for liver panels, celiac screening, and H. pylori testing

Explore specialty

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Pricing, provider availability, and location details can vary by provider. OpenDoc is designed to surface care-path and pricing context early, but provider-level details on the next step should be treated as the source of truth.

Gastroenterology

Why pricing transparency matters here

Choose the right path inside Gastroenterology

Transplant Hepatology

Common concerns that lead patients into Gastroenterology

How Gastroenterology is organized on OpenDoc

GI Evaluation (New Patient)

GI Follow-Up Visit

Screening Colonoscopy

Diagnostic Colonoscopy with Biopsy

Upper Endoscopy (EGD)

Capsule Endoscopy

How the subspecialties differ

Common services & estimated pricing

General Gastroenterology Evaluation

Why OpenDoc separates these care paths instead of collapsing them

Focused training matters

Prices match the care path

Less guesswork before booking

Better provider fit

Frequently asked questions

How much does a colonoscopy cost without insurance?

At what age should I get my first colonoscopy?

What is the difference between an EGD and a colonoscopy?

Do I need a referral to see a gastroenterologist?

What is a FibroScan and how much does it cost?

How long does a colonoscopy take from start to finish?

What is capsule endoscopy used for?

Can I get a same-day colonoscopy and EGD?

Explore gastroenterology by city

Keep exploring nearby care paths

General Surgery

Medical Oncology

Laboratory