Lumbar discectomy Cost (2026) — Compare Hospital Prices

Lumbar discectomy is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 1393 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$7,242median cash price · 1393 hospitals, 52 statestypically $1,885–$25,707 depending on the hospital

≈ 8.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)

$12,582

Cash / self-pay

$7,242

Insurer-negotiated

$7,310

Medicare pays

$898

$1,885$25,707

Median cash $7,242 · Medicare $898 · bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)

Is this a fair price?

1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $7,242 — about 8.1× the Medicare rate ($898). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($1,796).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $12,582 list price could save about $5,340 (42%).

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
Jefferson Health-Northeast	Philadelphia, PA	$1,087	$1,233	★ 2/5	316 min	—
Unity Health-Jacksonville	Jacksonville, AR	$1,221	—	—	130 min	—
Unity Health-Newport	Newport, AR	$1,221	—	—	103 min	—
Family Health West Hospital	Fruita, CO	$1,279	—	—	48 min	—
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital	Shelbyville, TN	$1,285	$1,629	★ 4/5	125 min	—
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital	Tullahoma, TN	$1,285	$1,506	★ 3/5	168 min	—
Edward W Sparrow Hospital	Lansing, MI	$1,291	$7,144	★ 3/5	299 min	—
Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital	Lebanon, NH	$1,399	$2,006	★ 4/5	118 min	—
Regional West Medical Center	Scottsbluff, NE	$1,407	$1,674	★ 2/5	202 min	—
Ellis Hospital	Schenectady, NY	$1,435	$974	★ 3/5	232 min	—
M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital	Burnsville, MN	$1,498	$1,608	★ 4/5	190 min	—
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston	Galveston, TX	$1,502	$2,399	★ 3/5	190 min	—
Cedar-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital	Marina Del Rey, CA	$1,551	$10,097	★ 4/5	180 min	—
Unity Hospital	Rochester, NY	$1,568	$842	★ 2/5	299 min	—
Unity Specialty Hospital	Rochester, NY	$1,568	$842	—	—	—
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital	Brattleboro, VT	$1,583	$2,104	★ 3/5	171 min	—
Community Memorial Hospital	Cloquet, MN	$1,625	$2,425	—	123 min	—
Southwest General Health Center	Middleburg Heights, OH	$1,650	$870	★ 4/5	199 min	—
Lake Region Healthcare Corporation	Fergus Falls, MN	$1,673	$973	—	—	—
Baylor Surgical Hospital at Las Colinas	Irving, TX	$1,676	$8,239	—	71 min	—
Children's Mercy South	Overland Park, KS	$1,707	$1,572	—	—	—
The Children's Mercy Hospital	Kansas City, MO	$1,707	$1,572	—	—	—
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center	Bennington, VT	$1,708	—	★ 3/5	202 min	—
Methodist Jennie Edmundson	Council Bluffs, IA	$1,711	$3,991	★ 3/5	150 min	—
University Medical Center	Las Vegas, NV	$1,720	$1,524	★ 2/5	238 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 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 Lumbar discectomy

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: $7,242; Medicare pays $898.

Insurer	Hospitals	Negotiated median
Medicaid	150	$328 $54 – $2,053
Medicare	259	$432 $70 – $2,053
Tricare / VA	179	$461 $75 – $6,999
Highmark	94	$612 $78 – $7,744
Univera	11	$636 $107 – $1,409
Health Net	121	$723 $85 – $9,832
Centene / Ambetter	507	$749 $75 – $9,878
Blue Cross Blue Shield	747	$803 $109 – $12,445
Kaiser Permanente	142	$813 $79 – $10,528
Anthem	370	$922 $111 – $12,632
MVP Health Care	45	$926 $346 – $13,451
Sanford Health Plan	28	$927 $328 – $6,787
Molina Healthcare	395	$1,028 $98 – $7,591
MultiPlan / PHCS network	164	$1,134 $121 – $11,396
Independent Health	25	$1,190 $457 – $2,053
Geisinger	37	$1,197 $192 – $7,880
AmeriHealth	102	$1,197 $192 – $8,372
HealthPartners	94	$1,213 $228 – $7,231
Priority Health	33	$1,384 $204 – $7,075
Coventry	55	$1,533 $201 – $11,258
Security Health Plan	27	$2,053 $439 – $9,418
Harvard Pilgrim	22	$2,053 $328 – $10,282
UCare	35	$2,156 $615 – $7,228
Amerigroup	111	$2,518 $457 – $7,181
Bright Health	39	$2,559 $1,876 – $5,558
Medica	61	$2,782 $641 – $7,751
Workers' Comp / No-Fault	43	$2,817 $2,817 – $12,412
UPMC Health Plan	60	$4,106 $601 – $15,833
Aetna	854	$4,283 $328 – $13,140
SelectHealth	35	$4,882 $625 – $11,612
UnitedHealthcare	912	$5,170 $328 – $15,074
Humana	628	$6,559 $147 – $16,840
Cigna	634	$7,049 $412 – $22,585
Devoted Health	107	$7,179 $6,613 – $8,459
Oscar Health	141	$8,024 $1,000 – $14,192
EmblemHealth	51	$8,454 $2,053 – $57,245
Healthcare Highways	32	$8,858 $8,517 – $9,565
AvMed	33	$11,933 $328 – $26,390

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
Tennessee	$2,392
Alabama	$2,694
South Carolina	$2,975
Massachusetts	$3,275
North Carolina	$3,544
Delaware	$3,831

Prices by city

Prices by state

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

Clinician	Specialty	Location	Medicare services
Gus Halamandaris, MD	Neurosurgery	Salinas, CA	64
Paul Ky	Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	Fresno, CA	62
Timothy Vanfleet, MD	Orthopedic Surgery	Springfield, IL	60
Sally Vespa, P.A.-C.	Physician Assistant	Springfield, IL	59
Michael Lay, PA	Physician Assistant	La Jolla, CA	52
Michelle Mitchell, NP	Nurse Practitioner	Palo Alto, CA	46
Robert Eastlack, M.D.	Orthopedic Surgery	La Jolla, CA	46
Michael Seese, PA-C	Physician Assistant	Jacksonville, FL	43
Bradley Wallace, MD	Neurosurgery	Jacksonville, FL	43
Tyler Knudsen, MMS,PA-C	Physician Assistant	Phoenix, AZ	41
Christian Zimmerman, MD	Neurosurgery	Boise, ID	40
Christopher Barry, M.D.	Neurosurgery	Edmond, OK	39

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Lumbar discectomy?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Lumbar discectomy. It is typically an inpatient service, so Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) pays the hospital a bundled rate — Medicare’s benchmark payment is about $898. Your own cost is mainly the Part A hospital deductible for the benefit period (a flat amount, not a percentage), plus any physician (Part B) charges. A Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan can change what you owe.

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 1393 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $7,242, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $12,582, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $7,310, a Medicare rate of about $898. Most cash prices fall between $1,885 and $25,707 — 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 Lumbar discectomy cost without insurance?

The median cash (self-pay) price across 1393 US hospitals is $7,242. Most hospitals fall between $1,885 and $25,707. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.

Does Medicare cover Lumbar discectomy?

Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part A as an inpatient service (Medicare's benchmark payment is about $898). You pay the Part A hospital deductible for the benefit period, plus any Part B physician charges.

What does Medicare pay for Lumbar discectomy?

Medicare pays about $898. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.

Why do Lumbar discectomy 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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