Joint aspiration (small/intermediate) Cost

Joint aspiration (small/intermediate) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2198 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$394median cash price · 2198 hospitals, 52 statestypically $144–$1,079 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.0× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$751
Cash / self-pay
$394
Insurer-negotiated
$357
Medicare pays
$57
$144$1,079
Median cash $394  ·  Medicare $57  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $394 — about 7.0× the Medicare rate ($57). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($113).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $751 list price could save about $357 (48%).

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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
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Martinez, CA $60 — ★ 4/5 175 min 14.2%
Twin City Medical Center Dennison, OH $60 $90 — — 15.0%
Trinity Hospital Weaverville, CA $62 $59 — 70 min 14.5%
Ozark Health Clinton, AR $62 $130 ★ 4/5 150 min 14.7%
Nemaha County Hospital Auburn, NE $62 $34 — 110 min 14.7%
John H Stroger Jr Hospital Chicago, IL $63 $45 ★ 2/5 280 min 15.0%
Provident Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL $63 $45 — 222 min 15.5%
Merrick Medical Center Central City, NE $65 $104 — 125 min 14.6%
Crete Area Medical Center Crete, NE $65 $104 — 100 min 14.8%
Smith County Emergency Hospital Raleigh, MS $66 $216 — — —
Covington County Hospital CAH Collins, MS $66 $216 — 72 min 14.8%
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $66 $283 — 162 min —
Hocking Valley Community Hospital Logan, OH $66 $51 — — 15.3%
Community Hospital, Onaga and St Marys Campus Onaga, KS $67 $138 — 138 min 15.2%
Madison Parish Hospital Tallulah, LA $68 $85 — 121 min —
Coleman County Medical Center Company Coleman, TX $68 $55 — 134 min 15.5%
Mercyone Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville, IA $69 $88 — 103 min —
Nathan Littauer Hospital Gloversville, NY $70 — ★ 2/5 172 min 15.0%
Fisher County Hospital District Rotan, TX $70 $71 — 107 min —
McKenzie Health System Sandusky, MI $70 $57 — 134 min 15.1%
Weeks Medical Center Lancaster, NH $71 $68 — 106 min 14.6%
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $71 $1,375 — — 16.2%
Lawrence Memorial Hospital Walnut Ridge, AR $72 $82 — 93 min 15.0%
Casey County Hospital Liberty, KY $73 — ★ 3/5 100 min 15.2%
Boone County Health Center Albion, NE $73 $56 ★ 4/5 110 min 15.5%

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 (small/intermediate)

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: $394; Medicare pays $57.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 329
$26
$12 – $272
Univera 15
$44
$29 – $67
Amerigroup 156
$49
$24 – $324
Medicare 540
$50
$15 – $375
Independent Health 26
$68
$30 – $444
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 125
$179
$57 – $725
AmeriHealth 199
$212
$23 – $1,167
Tricare / VA 378
$243
$25 – $589
Harvard Pilgrim 43
$247
$81 – $820
Highmark 127
$263
$22 – $1,104
Centene / Ambetter 761
$274
$22 – $948
Molina Healthcare 538
$277
$24 – $971
Geisinger 72
$281
$25 – $1,281
Priority Health 55
$284
$37 – $2,571
Devoted Health 143
$286
$57 – $363
UPMC Health Plan 84
$288
$27 – $814
Humana 985
$288
$34 – $2,471
Sanford Health Plan 77
$294
$37 – $713
UCare 74
$297
$33 – $670
HealthPartners 250
$300
$32 – $862
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1274
$302
$24 – $1,780
Anthem 517
$302
$23 – $2,755
Medica 236
$319
$62 – $1,016
UnitedHealthcare 1477
$322
$37 – $2,210
MVP Health Care 72
$331
$49 – $2,571
Kaiser Permanente 217
$339
$26 – $974
Security Health Plan 58
$360
$89 – $962
SelectHealth 44
$363
$121 – $4,882
Aetna 1347
$393
$52 – $3,230
Health Net 302
$393
$50 – $1,145
Coventry 146
$473
$83 – $1,242
EmblemHealth 61
$475
$86 – $10,047
MultiPlan / PHCS network 764
$550
$115 – $1,336
AvMed 55
$594
$285 – $24,023
Cigna 1111
$818
$91 – $5,286
Bright Health 54
$827
$407 – $2,644
Healthcare Highways 49
$2,069
$251 – $14,320
Oscar Health 215
$2,133
$162 – $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
Mississippi$143
New Hampshire$153
Maryland$156
Nebraska$232
Arkansas$265
Montana$268

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXHouston, TXDallas, TXCincinnati, OHNew York, NYBaltimore, MDBrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOOklahoma City, OKPittsburgh, PABaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CANashville, TNSacramento, CASaint Louis, MOSan Antonio, TXArlington, TXBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioPennsylvaniaFloridaIllinoisWisconsinNew YorkMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaLouisianaColoradoMissouriTennesseeNebraskaIowaOklahomaKentuckyArkansasKansasIndianaVirginiaWashingtonSouth DakotaArizonaMississippiMassachusettsWest VirginiaAlabamaMaineSouth CarolinaNew JerseyIdahoOregonNorth DakotaUtahMontanaNevadaConnecticutNew MexicoNew HampshireMarylandWyomingHawaiiPuerto RicoVermontDelawareAlaskaRhode IslandWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2198 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $394, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $751, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $357, a Medicare rate of about $57. Most cash prices fall between $144 and $1,079 — 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 (small/intermediate) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2198 US hospitals is $394. Most hospitals fall between $144 and $1,079. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Joint aspiration (small/intermediate)?
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 (small/intermediate) 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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