Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Cost by Hospital

Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2121 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$835median cash price · 2121 hospitals, 52 statestypically $283–$2,066 depending on the hospital
≈ 5.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$1,497
Cash / self-pay
$835
Insurer-negotiated
$804
Medicare pays
$165
$283$2,066
Median cash $835  ·  Medicare $165  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $835 — about 5.1× the Medicare rate ($165). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($330).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,497 list price could save about $662 (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
Henry Ford Health St John Hospital Detroit, MI $128 $147 ★ 1/5 170 min 15.3%
Ascension St John Jane Phillips Bartlesville, OK $128 $147 ★ 3/5 169 min 14.3%
Ascension St John Medical Center Tulsa, OK $128 $147 ★ 3/5 195 min 13.8%
Ascension St John Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK $128 $147 ★ 4/5 176 min 15.3%
Ascension St John Nowata Nowata, OK $128 $147 — 91 min 15.3%
Ascension St John Sapulpa Sapulpa, OK $128 $147 — 136 min 14.5%
Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital Lebanon, NH $130 $186 ★ 4/5 120 min 15.3%
San Juan Hospital Monticello, UT $131 $169 — 122 min 14.9%
Ortonville Area Health Services Ortonville, MN $135 $608 — 116 min 15.1%
Mercy Hospital Stoddard Dexter, MO $136 $142 ★ 2/5 176 min 14.7%
Holy Cross Hospital Nogales, AZ $138 $138 — 141 min —
Holy Cross Hospital Silver Spring, MD $138 $138 ★ 2/5 314 min 15.5%
Mercy Medical Ctr Springfield, MA $138 $28 ★ 2/5 278 min 15.7%
Cameron Memorial Community Hospital Inc Angola, IN $144 $83 ★ 3/5 166 min 14.3%
Carroll County Memorial Hospital Carrollton, MO $146 — — 104 min 14.9%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Jonesboro, Inc. Jonesboro, AR $149 $957 ★ 3/5 128 min 15.3%
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, Inc West Memphis, AR $149 $957 — 147 min 14.7%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County New Albany, MS $149 $957 ★ 4/5 144 min 14.1%
Baptist Memorial Hospital North Ms Oxford, MS $149 $957 ★ 4/5 153 min 16.2%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Booneville Booneville, MS $149 $957 ★ 3/5 106 min 14.4%
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center Jackson, MS $149 $957 ★ 2/5 213 min 16.1%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto Southaven, MS $149 $957 ★ 3/5 255 min 15.7%
Baptist Medical Center-Yazoo Yazoo City, MS $149 $957 — 86 min 15.1%
Baptist Medical Center-Leake Carthage, MS $149 $957 ★ 2/5 94 min 15.1%
Baptist Medical Center Attala Kosciusko, MS $149 $957 — 73 min 15.3%

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 Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)

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: $835; Medicare pays $165.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 315
$37
$21 – $557
Univera 15
$72
$51 – $154
Independent Health 34
$131
$55 – $820
Medicare 534
$138
$26 – $820
Highmark 125
$157
$28 – $1,715
Amerigroup 161
$276
$113 – $1,649
Geisinger 69
$301
$55 – $2,055
AmeriHealth 199
$359
$55 – $1,701
Priority Health 56
$375
$98 – $996
Molina Healthcare 528
$512
$47 – $1,950
MVP Health Care 77
$564
$64 – $2,571
Anthem 513
$576
$51 – $3,056
Medica 201
$597
$123 – $1,936
Harvard Pilgrim 44
$599
$138 – $1,616
Tricare / VA 382
$612
$33 – $1,033
Centene / Ambetter 761
$628
$37 – $1,639
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1221
$650
$51 – $2,252
Humana 964
$673
$64 – $2,569
Devoted Health 156
$676
$180 – $775
UCare 75
$684
$50 – $1,328
HealthPartners 228
$689
$59 – $1,559
Sanford Health Plan 75
$689
$63 – $1,218
AvMed 35
$694
$176 – $1,525
SelectHealth 45
$696
$138 – $4,882
Security Health Plan 62
$717
$138 – $1,469
UPMC Health Plan 96
$738
$57 – $1,909
UnitedHealthcare 1398
$752
$115 – $2,972
Bright Health 57
$827
$607 – $1,767
Kaiser Permanente 228
$842
$76 – $2,299
Aetna 1299
$859
$132 – $3,189
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 128
$875
$122 – $1,766
EmblemHealth 62
$902
$365 – $12,590
Health Net 303
$912
$117 – $2,452
Coventry 140
$1,074
$158 – $1,762
MultiPlan / PHCS network 785
$1,186
$269 – $2,300
Healthcare Highways 48
$1,266
$404 – $2,251
Cigna 1100
$1,426
$241 – $5,884
Oscar Health 211
$2,646
$262 – $3,479

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
Puerto Rico$301
Tennessee$332
Mississippi$369
Arizona$450
Montana$478
Iowa$482

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXHouston, TXDallas, TXCincinnati, OHNew York, NYBrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABaltimore, MDBronx, NYCharlotte, NCNashville, TNOklahoma City, OKSaint Louis, MOArlington, TXBaton Rouge, LABirmingham, ALLittle Rock, ARMiami, FLMilwaukee, WI

Prices by state

CaliforniaTexasOhioFloridaNew YorkIllinoisPennsylvaniaWisconsinMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaLouisianaTennesseeMissouriColoradoIowaOklahomaArkansasVirginiaIndianaWashingtonKansasNebraskaKentuckyArizonaMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaNew JerseyOregonSouth DakotaIdahoMarylandNorth DakotaNevadaUtahNew HampshireConnecticutNew MexicoMontanaWyomingHawaiiPuerto RicoVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2121 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $835, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $1,497, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $804, a Medicare rate of about $165. Most cash prices fall between $283 and $2,066 — 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 Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2121 US hospitals is $835. Most hospitals fall between $283 and $2,066. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)?
Medicare pays about $165. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) 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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