Joint aspiration or injection (small joint) Cost

Joint aspiration or injection (small joint) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2072 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$383median cash price · 2072 hospitals, 52 statestypically $119–$1,020 depending on the hospital
≈ 6.8× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$681
Cash / self-pay
$383
Insurer-negotiated
$345
Medicare pays
$56
$119$1,020
Median cash $383  ·  Medicare $56  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $383 — about 6.8× the Medicare rate ($56). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($112).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $681 list price could save about $299 (44%).

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
Miller County Hospital Colquitt, GA $58 $93 — 80 min 15.1%
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Martinez, CA $58 — ★ 4/5 175 min 14.2%
North Texas Medical Center Gainesville, TX $58 $282 ★ 4/5 121 min 14.9%
Nathan Littauer Hospital Gloversville, NY $59 — ★ 2/5 172 min 15.0%
Lifebrite Community Hospital of Stokes Danbury, NC $60 $88 — — 15.1%
Ozark Health Clinton, AR $60 $96 ★ 4/5 150 min 14.7%
Northwest Florida Community Hospital Chipley, FL $61 $35 ★ 2/5 — 14.3%
Nemaha County Hospital Auburn, NE $61 $34 — 110 min 14.7%
Trinity Hospital Weaverville, CA $62 $65 — 70 min 14.5%
John H Stroger Jr Hospital Chicago, IL $62 $44 ★ 2/5 280 min 15.0%
Provident Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL $62 $44 — 222 min 15.5%
Hocking Valley Community Hospital Logan, OH $63 $49 — — 15.3%
Merrick Medical Center Central City, NE $63 $101 — 125 min 14.6%
Crete Area Medical Center Crete, NE $63 $100 — 100 min 14.8%
Smith County Emergency Hospital Raleigh, MS $65 $216 — — —
Covington County Hospital CAH Collins, MS $65 $216 — 72 min 14.8%
Hospital General De Castaner Castaner, PR $65 $50 — — —
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $65 $283 — 162 min —
Cimarron Memorial Hospital Boise City, OK $67 $88 — 107 min 14.8%
McKenzie Health System Sandusky, MI $67 $55 — 134 min 15.1%
Rosebud Health Care Center Forsyth, MT $67 $66 — 105 min —
Androscoggin Valley Hospital Berlin, NH $67 $94 ★ 2/5 113 min 14.3%
Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center Anniston, AL $68 $275 ★ 1/5 232 min 15.7%
Coleman County Medical Center Company Coleman, TX $68 $55 — 134 min 15.5%
Weeks Medical Center Lancaster, NH $68 $54 — 106 min 14.6%

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 Joint aspiration or injection (small 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: $383; Medicare pays $56.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 296
$29
$17 – $272
Amerigroup 155
$40
$24 – $324
Univera 15
$43
$29 – $64
Independent Health 23
$68
$38 – $444
Medicare 494
$112
$14 – $368
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 116
$157
$57 – $725
AmeriHealth 184
$188
$19 – $1,146
Tricare / VA 343
$247
$27 – $589
Harvard Pilgrim 38
$247
$81 – $790
MVP Health Care 69
$269
$51 – $1,290
Priority Health 49
$273
$40 – $2,571
Geisinger 68
$276
$24 – $1,279
Highmark 116
$277
$26 – $1,047
Sanford Health Plan 68
$284
$36 – $696
Devoted Health 138
$286
$56 – $363
Centene / Ambetter 724
$286
$24 – $948
UPMC Health Plan 80
$287
$25 – $814
Molina Healthcare 512
$287
$25 – $1,188
HealthPartners 217
$292
$32 – $815
UCare 69
$293
$33 – $586
Humana 923
$295
$34 – $2,569
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1194
$303
$28 – $1,726
Anthem 482
$304
$23 – $2,952
Medica 205
$311
$60 – $1,010
UnitedHealthcare 1380
$322
$36 – $2,243
Kaiser Permanente 197
$332
$34 – $924
Security Health Plan 52
$336
$90 – $908
Aetna 1264
$388
$52 – $3,509
Health Net 268
$393
$55 – $1,314
SelectHealth 43
$406
$120 – $4,882
EmblemHealth 60
$460
$86 – $12,211
Coventry 124
$473
$94 – $1,433
MultiPlan / PHCS network 703
$500
$123 – $1,300
AvMed 54
$584
$285 – $24,023
Cigna 1033
$799
$97 – $6,025
Bright Health 52
$827
$407 – $2,644
Healthcare Highways 44
$2,069
$265 – $14,612
Oscar Health 206
$2,236
$181 – $3,100

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
New Hampshire$126
Maryland$156
Alaska$165
Montana$196
Nebraska$207
Mississippi$232

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXHouston, TXDallas, TXCincinnati, OHNew York, NYBaltimore, MDBrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOOklahoma City, OKPittsburgh, PABronx, NYCharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CANashville, TNSacramento, CASaint Louis, MOArlington, TXBaton Rouge, LABirmingham, ALLittle Rock, ARMiami, FL

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioPennsylvaniaFloridaIllinoisWisconsinNew YorkMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaColoradoMissouriLouisianaTennesseeNebraskaIowaOklahomaKentuckyIndianaWashingtonKansasArkansasVirginiaMississippiArizonaMassachusettsWest VirginiaSouth CarolinaAlabamaMaineNew JerseySouth DakotaOregonIdahoNorth DakotaUtahConnecticutNevadaNew HampshireMarylandMontanaNew MexicoWyomingPuerto RicoHawaiiVermontAlaskaRhode IslandDelawareWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2072 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $383, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $681, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $345, a Medicare rate of about $56. Most cash prices fall between $119 and $1,020 — 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 (small joint) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2072 US hospitals is $383. Most hospitals fall between $119 and $1,020. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Joint aspiration or injection (small joint)?
Medicare pays about $56. 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 (small 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.

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