Joint aspiration or injection (mid-size joint) Cost

Joint aspiration or injection (mid-size joint) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2160 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$411median cash price · 2160 hospitals, 52 statestypically $140–$1,103 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$775
Cash / self-pay
$411
Insurer-negotiated
$371
Medicare pays
$57
$140$1,103
Median cash $411  ·  Medicare $57  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $411 — about 7.2× the Medicare rate ($57). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($114).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $775 list price could save about $364 (47%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
Quick fill:

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
Share Medical Center Alva, OK $62 — — 141 min 15.2%
Barnesville Hospital Association, Inc Barnesville, OH $63 $4,513 — 113 min 15.0%
John H Stroger Jr Hospital Chicago, IL $63 $47 ★ 2/5 280 min 15.0%
Provident Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL $63 $47 — 222 min 15.5%
Nemaha County Hospital Auburn, NE $63 $35 — 110 min 14.7%
New London Hospital New London, NH $64 $71 ★ 3/5 154 min 15.9%
Merrick Medical Center Central City, NE $65 $105 — 125 min 14.6%
Crete Area Medical Center Crete, NE $65 $106 — 100 min 14.8%
Smith County Emergency Hospital Raleigh, MS $67 $216 — — —
Covington County Hospital CAH Collins, MS $67 $216 — 72 min 14.8%
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $67 $283 — 162 min —
George E Weems Memorial Hospital Apalachicola, FL $67 $63 — — —
Mercyone Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville, IA $69 $88 — 103 min —
Hocking Valley Community Hospital Logan, OH $70 $56 — — 15.3%
McKenzie Health System Sandusky, MI $70 $58 — 134 min 15.1%
Weeks Medical Center Lancaster, NH $71 $94 — 106 min 14.6%
Fisher County Hospital District Rotan, TX $71 $71 — 107 min —
Lawrence Memorial Hospital Walnut Ridge, AR $72 $88 — 93 min 15.0%
Peacehealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center Cottage Grove, OR $72 — — 121 min 14.9%
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $73 $1,389 — — 16.2%
Ascension Seton Williamson Round Rock, TX $75 $181 ★ 4/5 179 min 14.4%
Ascension Seton Hays Kyle, TX $75 $24 ★ 3/5 165 min 14.4%
Boone County Health Center Albion, NE $75 $57 ★ 4/5 110 min 15.5%
Hamilton Memorial Hospital Mcleansboro, IL $75 — ★ 3/5 122 min 15.2%
Prowers Medical Center Lamar, CO $76 — — 133 min —

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 Joint aspiration or injection (mid-size joint)

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: $411; Medicare pays $57.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 326
$21
$11 – $263
Medicare 530
$38
$15 – $381
Univera 15
$45
$30 – $67
Independent Health 26
$57
$30 – $444
Amerigroup 154
$63
$24 – $335
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 123
$208
$63 – $725
AmeriHealth 193
$228
$23 – $1,200
Tricare / VA 374
$240
$25 – $587
Harvard Pilgrim 43
$247
$81 – $946
Molina Healthcare 534
$248
$23 – $851
Highmark 122
$249
$19 – $1,104
Centene / Ambetter 752
$254
$20 – $948
Geisinger 70
$282
$28 – $1,293
Devoted Health 139
$285
$60 – $362
Humana 965
$287
$33 – $1,541
Priority Health 52
$288
$37 – $5,286
UPMC Health Plan 82
$289
$27 – $814
UCare 72
$297
$34 – $675
Anthem 510
$298
$22 – $2,616
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1255
$300
$23 – $1,795
HealthPartners 245
$303
$32 – $878
Sanford Health Plan 76
$319
$37 – $755
Medica 231
$321
$69 – $1,016
UnitedHealthcare 1448
$322
$37 – $2,174
SelectHealth 44
$326
$121 – $4,882
MVP Health Care 72
$349
$49 – $3,353
Kaiser Permanente 216
$349
$25 – $1,013
Security Health Plan 58
$365
$92 – $962
Health Net 301
$393
$42 – $1,111
Aetna 1325
$395
$51 – $3,186
Coventry 145
$473
$67 – $949
EmblemHealth 61
$498
$94 – $9,807
MultiPlan / PHCS network 760
$594
$107 – $1,343
AvMed 55
$648
$291 – $24,023
Cigna 1098
$825
$91 – $5,101
Bright Health 54
$827
$407 – $2,357
Oscar Health 215
$1,997
$160 – $3,007
Healthcare Highways 49
$2,069
$247 – $14,320

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
Mississippi$122
Maryland$167
New Hampshire$174
Nebraska$245
Montana$248
Louisiana$269

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXHouston, TXDallas, TXCincinnati, OHNew York, NYBaltimore, MDBrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CANashville, TNSacramento, CASaint Louis, MOArlington, TXBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, ARMiami, FLMilwaukee, WI

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaPennsylvaniaWisconsinIllinoisNew YorkNorth CarolinaMinnesotaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaColoradoMissouriTennesseeNebraskaIowaOklahomaKentuckyArkansasKansasIndianaWashingtonVirginiaArizonaMississippiSouth DakotaMassachusettsWest VirginiaAlabamaSouth CarolinaMaineNew JerseyOregonNorth DakotaMontanaIdahoUtahNevadaNew HampshireConnecticutNew MexicoMarylandWyomingHawaiiPuerto RicoVermontDelawareAlaskaRhode IslandWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2160 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $411, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $775, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $371, a Medicare rate of about $57. Most cash prices fall between $140 and $1,103 — 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 Joint aspiration or injection (mid-size joint) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2160 US hospitals is $411. Most hospitals fall between $140 and $1,103. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Joint aspiration or injection (mid-size joint)?
Medicare pays about $57. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Joint aspiration or injection (mid-size joint) 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 Other Procedures

IV infusion therapyIV infusion therapy (initial)Nebulizer breathing treatmentIV infusion therapy (each additional)Blood transfusionVaccine administrationKnee joint injectionSwallow study

See more Other Procedures.