Skin biopsy (punch) Cost by Hospital

Skin biopsy (punch) is a surgical procedure. Prices are from 2007 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$374median cash price · 2007 hospitals, 52 statestypically $149–$1,017 depending on the hospital
≈ 3.1× Medicare · On the higher sideFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$642
Cash / self-pay
$374
Insurer-negotiated
$414
Medicare pays
$121
$149$1,017
Median cash $374  ·  Medicare $121  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $374 — 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 $642 list price could save about $268 (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 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 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: $374; Medicare pays $121.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 295
$21
$15 – $295
Medicare 479
$50
$17 – $464
Univera 14
$50
$38 – $135
Amerigroup 147
$88
$79 – $494
Geisinger 65
$120
$53 – $1,242
AmeriHealth 188
$155
$42 – $931
Highmark 120
$162
$19 – $886
Independent Health 27
$176
$47 – $746
Priority Health 48
$212
$60 – $644
MVP Health Care 73
$215
$50 – $1,040
UCare 68
$226
$38 – $707
Harvard Pilgrim 44
$234
$103 – $637
Tricare / VA 337
$240
$23 – $484
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1156
$243
$23 – $1,462
Medica 196
$287
$78 – $922
Molina Healthcare 507
$295
$31 – $1,788
Anthem 476
$308
$22 – $3,266
HealthPartners 223
$311
$45 – $728
Centene / Ambetter 703
$314
$19 – $948
Sanford Health Plan 63
$315
$46 – $533
Humana 897
$388
$43 – $2,569
Devoted Health 146
$392
$121 – $481
UPMC Health Plan 84
$395
$51 – $1,101
Security Health Plan 48
$398
$103 – $709
Kaiser Permanente 207
$407
$26 – $1,179
UnitedHealthcare 1322
$407
$64 – $2,445
Health Net 237
$431
$35 – $1,354
Aetna 1208
$434
$67 – $3,231
Coventry 118
$444
$97 – $963
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 101
$453
$109 – $1,017
Bright Health 28
$472
$183 – $619
SelectHealth 43
$486
$120 – $4,882
Cigna 964
$496
$109 – $6,802
MultiPlan / PHCS network 652
$497
$126 – $1,220
AvMed 58
$608
$311 – $8,971
EmblemHealth 59
$839
$205 – $12,590
Healthcare Highways 40
$2,069
$332 – $14,612
Oscar Health 161
$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
Arizona$253
Wisconsin$254

Prices by city

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

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioFloridaNew YorkWisconsinPennsylvaniaIllinoisMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganGeorgiaTennesseeMissouriColoradoLouisianaIowaNebraskaVirginiaIndianaWashingtonKansasKentuckyOklahomaArkansasSouth DakotaMassachusettsWest VirginiaAlabamaMississippiMaineArizonaNew JerseySouth CarolinaMarylandNorth DakotaIdahoOregonMontanaConnecticutUtahNew HampshireNew MexicoNevadaWyomingRhode IslandAlaskaDelawareVermontHawaiiWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2007 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $374, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $642, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $414, a Medicare rate of about $121. Most cash prices fall between $149 and $1,017 — 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 2007 US hospitals is $374. Most hospitals fall between $149 and $1,017. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
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.

Related Surgery & Procedures

Abscess incision and drainageAbscess drainage (simple)Abscess drainage (complex or multiple)Foreign body removal (skin)Simple wound stitchesBurn treatmentSimple laceration repair (small, up to 2.5 cm)Burn dressing and debridement (small)

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