Abscess drainage (simple) Cost by Hospital

Abscess drainage (simple) is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 2307 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$338median cash price · 2307 hospitals, 52 statestypically $133–$848 depending on the hospital
≈ 2.6× Medicare · On the higher sideFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$568
Cash / self-pay
$338
Insurer-negotiated
$257
Medicare pays
$129
$133$848
Median cash $338  ·  Medicare $129  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $338 — about 2.6× the Medicare rate ($129). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($257).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $568 list price could save about $229 (40%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
St Gabriels Hospital Little Falls, MN $53 $183 ★ 4/5 139 min 14.7%
North Central Surgical Center Llp Dallas, TX $53 $4,501 — 107 min 14.2%
Saint Vincent Hospital Erie, PA $54 $113 ★ 4/5 212 min 14.7%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Union City Union City, TN $55 $327 ★ 4/5 139 min 14.5%
North Canyon Medical Center Gooding, ID $56 $154 — 111 min 14.9%
Jefferson Hospital Louisville, GA $57 $113 — 92 min 15.2%
Jefferson Hospital Jefferson Hills, PA $57 $113 ★ 4/5 172 min 15.4%
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $60 $71 ★ 2/5 110 min 15.7%
Minden Medical Center Minden, LA $60 $199 ★ 2/5 117 min 15.5%
Benson Hospital Benson, AZ $60 $104 — 155 min —
Fauquier Hospital Warrenton, VA $61 $2,117 ★ 3/5 163 min 15.0%
Bsa Hospital Amarillo, TX $61 $430 ★ 2/5 217 min 14.8%
Doctor's Center De San Juan Santurce, PR $63 $186 — — 15.5%
Doctors' Center Bayamon Bayamon, PR $63 $186 — — 16.6%
Doctors' Center Hospital, Inc Manati, PR $63 $186 ★ 1/5 — 16.3%
Driscoll Childrens Hospital Corpus Christi, TX $63 $583 — — —
Driscoll Children's Hospital Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX $63 $583 — — —
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $63 $186 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.1%
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $63 — — 130 min 15.2%
Unity Health-Newport Newport, AR $63 — — 104 min 15.4%
Ogallala Community Hospital Ogallala, NE $64 $116 — 98 min 15.3%
Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital Oneonta, NY $65 $252 ★ 3/5 123 min 15.2%
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $65 $86 — 88 min 14.7%
Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY $65 $82 ★ 4/5 109 min 14.6%
Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg, PA $66 $113 ★ 3/5 155 min 15.6%

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated June 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Abscess drainage (simple)

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $338; Medicare pays $129.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 353
$41
$25 – $285
Univera 15
$88
$9 – $135
Medicare 561
$96
$46 – $258
Amerigroup 165
$107
$65 – $377
Highmark 136
$176
$46 – $596
Geisinger 76
$176
$31 – $861
Independent Health 29
$180
$95 – $361
Priority Health 59
$182
$104 – $463
Tricare / VA 396
$182
$52 – $363
Molina Healthcare 555
$189
$51 – $706
Centene / Ambetter 805
$193
$46 – $948
Devoted Health 155
$196
$119 – $237
UPMC Health Plan 97
$200
$31 – $548
AmeriHealth 219
$201
$25 – $825
Humana 1032
$201
$81 – $1,570
UCare 79
$203
$87 – $455
Anthem 540
$216
$51 – $2,976
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1323
$218
$51 – $856
Kaiser Permanente 231
$240
$56 – $752
Harvard Pilgrim 46
$245
$134 – $493
UnitedHealthcare 1526
$252
$89 – $2,020
HealthPartners 248
$252
$82 – $548
MVP Health Care 73
$270
$103 – $936
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 131
$282
$59 – $464
Medica 235
$291
$111 – $839
Sanford Health Plan 82
$294
$102 – $591
Aetna 1404
$306
$97 – $2,881
Coventry 143
$321
$118 – $923
Health Net 299
$321
$60 – $924
SelectHealth 46
$325
$183 – $4,882
Security Health Plan 62
$334
$104 – $551
Cigna 1107
$381
$117 – $5,600
AvMed 61
$400
$238 – $8,971
MultiPlan / PHCS network 782
$444
$172 – $945
EmblemHealth 64
$485
$169 – $7,189
Bright Health 57
$827
$275 – $2,548
Healthcare Highways 47
$2,069
$220 – $14,320
Oscar Health 214
$2,284
$174 – $3,549

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
Puerto Rico$63
Mississippi$138
New Hampshire$183
Vermont$186
Louisiana$190
Michigan$199

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXFort Worth, TXPittsburgh, PABaltimore, MDCincinnati, OHNew York, NYSacramento, CABrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOOklahoma City, OKBronx, NYCharlotte, NCLos Angeles, CANashville, TNPlano, TXArlington, TXBaton Rouge, LABirmingham, ALBoston, MALittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioPennsylvaniaFloridaIllinoisWisconsinNew YorkMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeMissouriColoradoIowaNebraskaOklahomaArkansasKentuckyKansasIndianaWashingtonSouth DakotaVirginiaMassachusettsArizonaMississippiWest VirginiaAlabamaSouth CarolinaMaineNew JerseyMarylandNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoNew HampshireUtahNew MexicoConnecticutNevadaHawaiiWyomingPuerto RicoVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2307 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $338, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $568, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $257, a Medicare rate of about $129. Most cash prices fall between $133 and $848 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Abscess drainage (simple) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2307 US hospitals is $338. Most hospitals fall between $133 and $848. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Abscess drainage (simple)?
Medicare pays about $129. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Abscess drainage (simple) prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

Related Surgery & Procedures

Abscess incision and drainageAbscess drainage (complex or multiple)Foreign body removal (skin)Simple wound stitchesBurn treatmentSimple laceration repair (small, up to 2.5 cm)Burn dressing and debridement (small)Skin biopsy

See more Surgery & Procedures.