How much does an ultrasound cost in 2025?

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a scan that creates internal images of the body using high-frequency sound waves. Ultrasounds are commonly used during pregnancy, as well as to examine specific parts of the body such as the abdominal and pelvic region, and musculoskeletal and vascular systems.

How much does an ultrasound cost?

One of the most common ultrasound procedures is a scan of the pelvis or abdomen of a pregnant patient at less than 12 weeks gestation. The ultrasound cost for this scan is usually around $175 when requested by a practitioner or $60 when done during the course of a regular consultation, according to the Federal Government’s Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. This doesn’t take into account the Medicare benefit, usually around $55 and $32 respectively. This means a non-bulk billing patient would generally have an out-of-pocket cost of about $120 for a requested scan and $28 for a non-requested one.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing notes that these costs are only a guide and should not be used as a quote.

Other general ultrasound procedures and their costs

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Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Medical Costs Finder.

The out-of-pocket cost will largely depend on the type of scan you’re getting, the health professional’s fees and whether you’re a bulk billing patient (have all costs covered by Medicare) or a non-bulk billing patient claiming the Medicare benefit.

The Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) includes fees for each listed service and bases the rebate Medicare offers on these fees. But providers are entitled to set their own fees, so the actual cost of an ultrasound may differ.

Before having an ultrasound, check the cost and whether you’ll be eligible for a Medicare rebate with your doctor or healthcare professional. If your provider chooses to bulk bill, you won’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket.

How much does a pregnancy ultrasound cost?

For obstetric ultrasounds, the cost will also be influenced by how many weeks along you are, as well as if you’re pregnant with more than one foetus—for example, a scan of twins or triplets may cost extra, depending on the clinic.

The cost of your scan may also vary depending on if the scan was done on request or not. For example, item number 55704 is considered ‘R’ or request type, which means it was requested by an eligible practitioner (e.g. GP, obstetric and gynaecological specialist, participating midwife etc.), with the ultrasound being performed by a radiologist or obstetrician (or by a sonographer under their supervision) who then creates the images and a report for the requesting practitioner. Item number 55705, on the other hand, is considered ‘NR’ or non-request type, which generally means an obstetrician or other relevant specialist will be undertaking the imaging during a consultation, with no request for imaging from another practitioner and no written report required.

Whether you’re better off getting a requested or non-requested ultrasound will depend on your own healthcare needs and pregnancy treatment plan.

Obstetrics specific ultrasound costs

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Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Medical Costs Finder.

How many ultrasounds do you need for pregnancy?

According to the Victorian State Government’s Better Health Channel, pregnant women will typically be referred for three routine ultrasounds, one during the first, second and third trimesters of their pregnancy. These procedures will check the baby’s development and help to spot any abnormalities. They can also often determine the baby’s sex—should the parents wish to know.

Are ultrasounds covered by Medicare in Australia?

Medicare can cover ultrasounds for eligible services, but there could be out-of-pocket costs. The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) lists all the medical services that are subsidised by the Federal Government. This includes certain ultrasound services, and specifically includes obstetric and gynaecological ultrasounds, as well as general, cardiac, vascular, urological and musculoskeletal ones.

Medicare will pay you a benefit on these services if you’re eligible. For example, to get a rebate, you may require a valid referral from your doctor for the ultrasound. The rebate will be a percentage of the listed MBS fee. For out-of-hospital services, Medicare usually pays 85% of the schedule fee.

Does private health insurance cover ultrasounds?

By law, private health insurance does not provide cover for out-of-hospital diagnostic imaging and tests, such as ultrasounds. If you’re planning a pregnancy, though, then private health insurance can potentially help to cover certain hospital-related costs.

For example, insurance providers may pay benefits towards private obstetrics and hospital accommodation if you have a Gold tier hospital policy or Silver Plus policy that includes obstetrics. This may be beneficial if you would rather be a private patient and potentially have your choice of health professional/s and your own private room while in hospital (depending on availability).

Bear in mind that all health funds have a 12-month waiting period for obstetric services. This waiting period must be served before you’re admitted to hospital. This means you’ll need to take out a new policy or change your current one at least three months before you plan to get pregnant.

Out-of-pocket expenses and terms and conditions can apply. Read the Private Health Information Statement (PHIS) to find out more about a private health insurance policy or contact the health insurance provider directly.

What are the risks of having an ultrasound?

Ultrasounds are generally considered safe, when compared to other forms of medical imaging (e.g. X-rays and CT scans) as they do not expose you to ionising radiation. Your doctor should advise you if an ultrasound is unsafe for your particular medical needs.

Do I have to prepare for an ultrasound?

Your healthcare professional should advise you if there’s any preparation required before undertaking your ultrasound. In certain circumstances, you may be asked to avoid eating, drinking or chewing anything before your appointment or you may be asked to have a full or partially full bladder in some cases.

What happens during an ultrasound?

You’ll generally be asked to lie down or sit before your scan commences. The area of interest will be exposed and gel will be applied to it by your ultrasound technologist (also known as a sonographer). They’ll then place the transducer on the area, which will send a moving image instantly to a monitor screen. The sonographer will then move the transducer around the area, taking notes of what they see on the screen. After the ultrasound finishes, they’ll usually send your results to your referring doctor.

How long does an ultrasound take?

A typical ultrasound will take around 30 minutes, according to the I-MED Radiology Network. It may take longer than this depending on the detail required and the number and size of the organ/s being examined.