Joint aspiration (small/intermediate) Cost

Joint aspiration (small/intermediate) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2260 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$392median cash price · 2260 hospitals, 52 statestypically $143–$1,097 depending on the hospital

≈ 6.9× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)

$756

Cash / self-pay

$392

Insurer-negotiated

$355

Medicare pays

$57

$143$1,097

Median cash $392 · Medicare $57 · bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)

Is this a fair price?

1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $392 — about 6.9× 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 $756 list price could save about $364 (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

See negotiated rates for your insurer:

Hospital	Location	Cash	Insurer	CMS rating	ER wait	Readmit
Miller County Hospital	Colquitt, GA	$59	$93	—	85 min	—
Henderson County Community Hospital	Lexington, TN	$59	—	—	151 min	—
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center	Martinez, CA	$60	—	★ 4/5	171 min	—
Twin City Medical Center	Dennison, OH	$60	$90	—	—	—
Trinity Hospital	Weaverville, CA	$62	$59	—	69 min	—
Ozark Health	Clinton, AR	$62	$130	★ 4/5	132 min	—
Nemaha County Hospital	Auburn, NE	$62	$34	—	110 min	—
John H Stroger Jr Hospital	Chicago, IL	$63	$45	★ 2/5	293 min	—
Provident Hospital of Chicago	Chicago, IL	$63	$45	—	190 min	—
Arbuckle Memorial Hospital	Sulphur, OK	$63	$75	★ 4/5	113 min	—
Merrick Medical Center	Central City, NE	$65	$104	—	127 min	—
Crete Area Medical Center	Crete, NE	$65	$104	—	104 min	—
Smith County Emergency Hospital	Raleigh, MS	$66	$216	—	—	—
Covington County Hospital CAH	Collins, MS	$66	$216	—	74 min	—
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital	Grove Hill, AL	$66	$283	—	166 min	—
Hocking Valley Community Hospital	Logan, OH	$66	$51	—	—	—
Community Hospital, Onaga and St Marys Campus	Onaga, KS	$67	$138	—	136 min	—
Madison Parish Hospital	Tallulah, LA	$68	$85	—	125 min	—
Coleman County Medical Center Company	Coleman, TX	$68	$55	—	130 min	—
Mercyone Dyersville Medical Center	Dyersville, IA	$69	$88	—	105 min	—
Nathan Littauer Hospital	Gloversville, NY	$70	—	★ 2/5	169 min	—
Fisher County Hospital District	Rotan, TX	$70	$71	—	110 min	—
McKenzie Health System	Sandusky, MI	$70	$57	—	133 min	—
Weeks Medical Center	Lancaster, NH	$71	$68	—	107 min	—
Hospital De La Concepcion	San German, PR	$71	$1,375	—	—	—

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 October 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: $392; Medicare pays $57.

Insurer	Hospitals	Negotiated median
Medicaid	339	$26 $12 – $272
Univera	15	$44 $29 – $67
Amerigroup	160	$49 $24 – $336
Medicare	548	$50 $15 – $368
Independent Health	27	$68 $30 – $409
Workers' Comp / No-Fault	126	$179 $57 – $725
AmeriHealth	214	$185 $23 – $970
Tricare / VA	388	$235 $25 – $575
Molina Healthcare	565	$238 $25 – $848
Harvard Pilgrim	43	$247 $80 – $821
Highmark	131	$261 $22 – $1,104
Centene / Ambetter	783	$272 $23 – $948
Geisinger	72	$281 $25 – $1,281
Priority Health	54	$284 $37 – $2,571
Humana	1024	$288 $34 – $1,736
UPMC Health Plan	99	$290 $27 – $815
Devoted Health	159	$290 $79 – $360
Sanford Health Plan	79	$294 $37 – $755
UCare	79	$295 $34 – $670
Blue Cross Blue Shield	1295	$296 $24 – $1,725
HealthPartners	258	$298 $32 – $862
Anthem	560	$308 $23 – $2,614
Medica	241	$312 $61 – $1,015
UnitedHealthcare	1535	$321 $38 – $2,174
MVP Health Care	72	$331 $50 – $2,571
Kaiser Permanente	220	$335 $26 – $971
Security Health Plan	61	$350 $92 – $962
SelectHealth	44	$363 $121 – $4,882
Aetna	1404	$383 $51 – $3,186
Health Net	305	$393 $50 – $1,132
Coventry	155	$420 $88 – $1,148
AvMed	59	$522 $238 – $23,005
EmblemHealth	73	$540 $94 – $5,014
MultiPlan / PHCS network	806	$554 $113 – $1,336
Cigna	1164	$778 $89 – $5,101
Bright Health	54	$827 $407 – $2,644
Oscar Health	243	$1,575 $143 – $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
Maryland	$156
Mississippi	$160
New Hampshire	$185
Vermont	$215
Nebraska	$216
North Dakota	$248

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 2260 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $392, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $756, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $355, a Medicare rate of about $57. Most cash prices fall between $143 and $1,097 — 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 2260 US hospitals is $392. Most hospitals fall between $143 and $1,097. 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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