Joint aspiration (small/intermediate) Cost

Joint aspiration (small/intermediate) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2245 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$396median cash price · 2245 hospitals, 52 statestypically $146–$1,083 depending on the hospital

≈ 7.0× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)

$755

Cash / self-pay

$396

Insurer-negotiated

$357

Medicare pays

$57

$146$1,083

Median cash $396 · Medicare $57 · bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)

Is this a fair price?

1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $396 — 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 $755 list price could save about $359 (48%).

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

See negotiated rates for your insurer:

Hospital	Location	Cash	Insurer	CMS rating	ER wait	Readmit
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 August 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: $396; Medicare pays $57.

Insurer	Hospitals	Negotiated median
Medicaid	335	$26 $12 – $272
Univera	15	$44 $29 – $67
Amerigroup	159	$49 $24 – $332
Medicare	542	$50 $15 – $368
Independent Health	27	$68 $30 – $409
Workers' Comp / No-Fault	125	$179 $57 – $725
AmeriHealth	212	$184 $23 – $971
Tricare / VA	383	$230 $25 – $582
Molina Healthcare	562	$245 $25 – $868
Harvard Pilgrim	43	$247 $81 – $820
Highmark	127	$263 $22 – $1,104
Centene / Ambetter	767	$272 $23 – $948
Geisinger	72	$281 $25 – $1,281
Priority Health	55	$284 $37 – $2,571
Devoted Health	156	$287 $60 – $363
Humana	1013	$288 $34 – $2,334
UPMC Health Plan	96	$290 $28 – $815
Sanford Health Plan	77	$294 $37 – $713
UCare	78	$295 $34 – $670
HealthPartners	257	$298 $33 – $862
Blue Cross Blue Shield	1289	$300 $24 – $1,780
Anthem	543	$302 $23 – $2,716
Medica	240	$315 $62 – $1,015
UnitedHealthcare	1511	$316 $37 – $2,174
MVP Health Care	72	$331 $49 – $2,571
Kaiser Permanente	218	$339 $26 – $971
Security Health Plan	61	$350 $92 – $962
SelectHealth	44	$363 $121 – $4,882
Aetna	1380	$389 $52 – $3,189
Health Net	304	$393 $50 – $1,142
Coventry	151	$473 $86 – $1,242
EmblemHealth	61	$475 $86 – $10,047
MultiPlan / PHCS network	791	$551 $115 – $1,336
AvMed	57	$594 $270 – $24,023
Cigna	1143	$794 $91 – $5,153
Bright Health	54	$827 $407 – $2,644
Oscar Health	229	$1,575 $162 – $3,007
Healthcare Highways	49	$2,069 $251 – $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

State	Median cash
Mississippi	$143
New Hampshire	$153
Maryland	$156
Nebraska	$232
Arkansas	$265
Montana	$268

Prices by city

Prices by state

Does Medicare cover Joint aspiration (small/intermediate)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Joint aspiration (small/intermediate). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $57. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $11 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2245 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $396, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $755, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $357, a Medicare rate of about $57. Most cash prices fall between $146 and $1,083 — 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 2245 US hospitals is $396. Most hospitals fall between $146 and $1,083. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.

Does Medicare cover Joint aspiration (small/intermediate)?

Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $57). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.

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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