2026 Forecast Verified

Open Heart Surgery Cost in Utah (2026)

In line with national pricing · Regional price parity: 99.2 · UT

Utah Average
$148,800
Near national average
Typical Range
$79,360 – $248,000
National avg: $150,000
Editorial view of Utah
Regional Pricing Confidence
90% Confidence Index
The Utah Market

What Drives Pricing Here

Three factors explain most of why open heart surgery costs what it does in Utah.

Regional Price Parity

Utah's cost-of-living index sits at 99.2 — near the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.

Specialist Availability

Limited local facility options in Utah can reduce price competition. Consider quotes from neighboring states if the travel is feasible.

Vs. National Benchmark

Utah tracks within 0.8% of the national average ($150,000) — a typical mid-market pricing environment with wide provider variance.

State Context

Open Heart Surgery in Utah: What to Know

Utah offers exceptional open-heart surgery options, with a rich history dating back to 1955 when Russell M. Nelson performed the state's first procedure at the University of Utah. Today, University of Utah Health is a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, providing expertise, strong outcomes, and is the only facility in the Mountain West offering Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) with the da Vinci Robot. Additionally, Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, and St. George Regional Hospital are recognized among the nation's Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals.

For cost-conscious patients, exploring options across Intermountain Healthcare's facilities in cities like Murray, Ogden, or St. George could yield variations. While open-heart surgery is hospital-based, investigating specific hospital pricing within Utah or neighboring states like Idaho or Wyoming might reveal more affordable alternatives. Verify current pricing directly with providers.

Itemized Breakdown

Estimated Cost Breakdown in Utah

Utah sits near the middle of the pack for open heart surgery pricing. The cost components typically split like this.

Hospital Stay

Per-night inpatient cost

$36,456 - $67,704

Most significant cost

Surgeon Fee

Expertise and experience level

$20,832 - $38,688

Implants & Supplies

$15,623 - $29,016

Operating Room

OR and equipment time

$15,623 - $29,016

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee

$8,333 - $15,475

Post-Op Care

Recovery and aftercare

$7,291 - $13,541

Total Estimated Cost

Utah all-in range

$79,360 – $248,000

Financing Options

Many Utah clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $148,800 looks like:

$6,200/mo
Est. 24 months · 0% APR promo
  • Soft credit check — no hard pull
  • Instant approval decisions
  • HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases

Based on CMS Medicare data and regional price parities. Learn about our methodology →

Ranges adjusted for Utah's regional price parity (99.2). See the national percentage breakdown →

Hospital-Level Data

Facility Costs in Utah

Here are the highest-volume open heart surgery providers in Utah. All rates come from CMS Medicare claims data — actual payments, not list prices.

Facility City Negotiated Rate Medicare Volume
University Of Utah Hospitals And Clinics Salt Lake City $85,121 $79,113 37
Intermountain Medical Center Murray $77,733 $70,862 24
University Of Utah Hospitals And Clinics Salt Lake City $116,699 $108,220 13
St George Regional Hospital St George $68,320 $67,157 11
Regional Comparison

Open Heart Surgery Cost in Nearby States

Neighboring states offer a range of open heart surgery pricing. Utah falls in the middle of the pack.

Common Questions

Expert Answers for Utah Patients

Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to Utah.

Compare Utah with any other state

See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main open heart surgery cost guide.

View full open heart surgery guide
How much does open heart surgery cost in Utah?
In Utah, open heart surgery runs about $148,800 on average. Most patients pay between $79,360 and $248,000, with the final price shaped by your choice of surgeon, facility type, and procedure complexity.
Will my health insurance pay for open heart surgery?
Insurance typically picks up most of the tab for open heart surgery when it's medically indicated. In Utah, confirm your surgeon is in-network and get pre-authorization before scheduling to avoid surprise bills.
What's the recovery time for open heart surgery?
Expect 42 to 120 days before you're fully back to normal after open heart surgery. Recovery milestones vary by patient, but most people in Utah find they can handle light errands by day 42 and resume exercise around day 120. Your surgeon's post-op protocol will give you a more personalized timeline.
Are payment plans available for open heart surgery in Utah?
Many Utah providers offer financing through medical credit companies like CareCredit or Prosper Healthcare Lending. You can also use HSA/FSA funds, negotiate a cash-pay discount (often 10-20% off), or ask about in-house payment plans that split the $148,800 cost into monthly installments.
Is it worth traveling to another state for open heart surgery?
New Mexico runs $8,100 cheaper for open heart surgery than Utah. For patients near the state line, that 5% difference can justify the trip. Ask your Utah surgeon if they coordinate with out-of-state providers for post-op monitoring.
Can Medicaid help pay for open heart surgery in Utah?
Medicaid coverage for open heart surgery in Utah depends on medical necessity. If your doctor documents that open heart surgery is required for your health, Utah Medicaid may cover part or all of the cost. Pre-authorization is typically required. Contact Utah's Medicaid office or your managed care plan for specific coverage details.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for open heart surgery?
HSA and FSA accounts work for open heart surgery as long as there's medical necessity. Given Utah's $148,800 average, pre-tax payment through your health savings account is worth pursuing — the tax benefit alone could cover your follow-up care costs.
Data Sources & References

How we calculate open heart surgery costs in Utah

Cost estimates combine procedure-specific pricing data with regional cost-of-living and provider-supply adjustments. Primary sources:

  • Hospital pricing transparency files — CMS-required machine-readable data published by hospitals under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (effective January 2021). Provides actual negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers.
  • HCUP (Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project)AHRQ's HCUP databases provide nationally-representative procedure cost data by state, payer, and patient demographics.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics — Healthcare Practitioner Occupational WagesBLS OEWS data on surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical staff wages by state, used to model regional labor-cost differences in procedure pricing.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP)U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis state-level price-level indices, used to adjust national procedure averages for Utah's cost-of-living relative to the national mean.
  • FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup — the FAIR Health database aggregates billed and allowed amounts from over 36 billion claim records, providing a check on procedure-cost ranges by ZIP code.
  • Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment DataCMS public-use files on Medicare-allowed amounts and submitted charges by HCPCS/CPT code and state, used as a baseline for procedure-cost ranges.

Estimates are illustrative and reflect typical pricing ranges; actual costs depend on insurance coverage, surgical complexity, anesthesia type, hospital vs. ambulatory setting, and individual patient factors. Always confirm pricing directly with providers and your insurance carrier. See our methodology page for full calculation details.

Compare Open Heart Surgery Cost in Every State