Skin biopsy (punch) Cost by Hospital

Skin biopsy (punch) is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 2048 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$376median cash price · 2048 hospitals, 52 statestypically $150–$1,003 depending on the hospital
≈ 3.1× Medicare · On the higher sideFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$646
Cash / self-pay
$376
Insurer-negotiated
$413
Medicare pays
$121
$150$1,003
Median cash $376  ·  Medicare $121  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $376 — about 3.1× the Medicare rate ($121). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($242).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $646 list price could save about $270 (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

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Barnesville Hospital Association, Inc Barnesville, OH $57 $4,513 — 113 min 15.0%
Page Hospital Page, AZ $60 $82 — 77 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Jonesboro, Inc. Jonesboro, AR $61 $552 ★ 3/5 128 min 15.3%
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, Inc West Memphis, AR $61 $552 — 147 min 14.7%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County New Albany, MS $61 $552 ★ 4/5 144 min 14.1%
Baptist Memorial Hospital North Ms Oxford, MS $61 $552 ★ 4/5 153 min 16.2%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Booneville Booneville, MS $61 $552 ★ 3/5 106 min 14.4%
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center Jackson, MS $61 $552 ★ 2/5 213 min 16.1%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto Southaven, MS $61 $552 ★ 3/5 255 min 15.7%
Baptist Medical Center-Yazoo Yazoo City, MS $61 $552 — 86 min 15.1%
Baptist Medical Center-Leake Carthage, MS $61 $552 ★ 2/5 94 min 15.1%
Baptist Medical Center Attala Kosciusko, MS $61 $552 — 73 min 15.3%
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County Huntingdon, TN $61 $552 ★ 4/5 118 min 15.1%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis, TN $61 $552 ★ 3/5 174 min 15.4%
Baptist Memorial Hospital Tipton Covington, TN $61 $552 ★ 3/5 149 min 17.0%
Mountain Lakes Medical Center Clayton, GA $61 $115 — 107 min 15.2%
University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX $62 $210 ★ 3/5 242 min 15.4%
Marlette Regional Hospital Marlette, MI $62 $104 — 107 min 15.0%
Beloit Health System Beloit, WI $65 $313 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.5%
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $65 $73 ★ 2/5 110 min 15.7%
Henry County Hospital, Inc Napoleon, OH $66 $88 ★ 2/5 105 min 15.1%
Cox Medical Center Branson Branson, MO $67 $434 ★ 4/5 209 min 13.7%
Grafton City Hospital, Inc Grafton, WV $70 $79 — 66 min —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $73 $366 ★ 2/5 203 min 16.0%
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $74 $152 ★ 2/5 104 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 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 Skin biopsy (punch)

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: $376; Medicare pays $121.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 301
$21
$15 – $295
Medicare 481
$50
$17 – $464
Univera 14
$50
$38 – $135
Amerigroup 150
$88
$79 – $494
Geisinger 65
$120
$53 – $1,242
Highmark 120
$162
$19 – $886
AmeriHealth 201
$171
$42 – $908
Independent Health 28
$181
$47 – $746
Priority Health 48
$212
$60 – $644
MVP Health Care 73
$215
$50 – $1,040
UCare 71
$229
$39 – $707
Tricare / VA 342
$233
$23 – $484
Harvard Pilgrim 44
$234
$103 – $637
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1169
$245
$23 – $1,462
Medica 200
$286
$78 – $914
Molina Healthcare 532
$295
$31 – $1,521
HealthPartners 229
$310
$45 – $722
Sanford Health Plan 63
$315
$46 – $533
Centene / Ambetter 709
$317
$19 – $948
Anthem 502
$330
$23 – $3,198
Devoted Health 159
$387
$121 – $474
Humana 923
$388
$43 – $2,569
UPMC Health Plan 95
$391
$53 – $936
Security Health Plan 50
$398
$88 – $709
UnitedHealthcare 1354
$402
$64 – $2,349
Kaiser Permanente 208
$407
$26 – $1,179
Health Net 239
$426
$35 – $1,349
Aetna 1239
$436
$68 – $3,189
Coventry 122
$444
$98 – $961
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 101
$453
$109 – $1,017
Bright Health 28
$472
$183 – $619
SelectHealth 43
$486
$120 – $4,882
Cigna 993
$494
$110 – $6,802
MultiPlan / PHCS network 675
$505
$126 – $1,193
AvMed 60
$608
$271 – $8,591
EmblemHealth 59
$839
$205 – $12,590
Healthcare Highways 40
$2,069
$332 – $14,612
Oscar Health 174
$3,346
$113 – $6,587

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$161
Vermont$177
Tennessee$186
New Hampshire$192
Wisconsin$249
Nebraska$255

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXBaltimore, MDCincinnati, OHFort Worth, TXNew York, NYBrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOBronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHLos Angeles, CANashville, TNPlano, TXSacramento, CAArlington, TXBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, ARMiami, FLMilwaukee, WIRochester, NY

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaWisconsinNew YorkPennsylvaniaIllinoisMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganTennesseeGeorgiaMissouriColoradoLouisianaIowaNebraskaVirginiaIndianaWashingtonKansasKentuckyOklahomaArkansasSouth DakotaMassachusettsWest VirginiaAlabamaMississippiArizonaMaineNew JerseySouth CarolinaMarylandOregonNorth DakotaIdahoMontanaConnecticutUtahNew HampshireNew MexicoNevadaWyomingRhode IslandDelawareVermontAlaskaHawaiiWashington DC

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.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Jon Davis, MDDermatologyEvansville, IN1,150
Jodi Fiedler, M.D.DermatologyBoca Raton, FL569
George Murakawa, MD PHDDermatologyTroy, MI501
Clifford Lober, MDDermatologyKissimmee, FL447
John Sowell, MDDermatologyHuntsville, AL404
Emily Warshauer, M.D.DermatologyPoint Pleasant Boro, NJ380
Arthur King, MDDermatologyStuart, FL374
Shari Topper, MDDermatologyBoca Raton, FL372
Valerie Davis, M.D.DermatologyNew Smyrna Beach, FL357
Debbie Gloria, ARNPNurse PractitionerFernandina Beach, FL343
Robert Rosen, D.O.DermatologyToms River, NJ327
Jameson Pawlik, PA-CPhysician AssistantSarasota, FL295

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Skin biopsy (punch)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Skin biopsy (punch). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $121. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $24 — 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 2048 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $376, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $646, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $413, a Medicare rate of about $121. Most cash prices fall between $150 and $1,003 — 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 Skin biopsy (punch) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2048 US hospitals is $376. Most hospitals fall between $150 and $1,003. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Skin biopsy (punch)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $121). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Skin biopsy (punch)?
Medicare pays about $121. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Skin biopsy (punch) 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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