Joint aspiration or injection (small joint) is a hospital service. Prices are from 2131 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $383 — about 6.8× the Medicare rate ($56). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($112).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $697 list price could save about $314 (45%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller County Hospital | Colquitt, GA | $58 | $93 | — | 85 min | — |
| Contra Costa Regional Medical Center | Martinez, CA | $58 | — | ★ 4/5 | 171 min | — |
| North Texas Medical Center | Gainesville, TX | $58 | $295 | ★ 4/5 | 117 min | — |
| Nathan Littauer Hospital | Gloversville, NY | $59 | — | ★ 2/5 | 169 min | — |
| Lifebrite Community Hospital of Stokes | Danbury, NC | $60 | $88 | — | — | — |
| Ozark Health | Clinton, AR | $60 | $96 | ★ 4/5 | 132 min | — |
| Northwest Florida Community Hospital | Chipley, FL | $61 | $35 | ★ 2/5 | — | — |
| Nemaha County Hospital | Auburn, NE | $61 | $34 | — | 110 min | — |
| Trinity Hospital | Weaverville, CA | $62 | $65 | — | 69 min | — |
| John H Stroger Jr Hospital | Chicago, IL | $62 | $44 | ★ 2/5 | 293 min | — |
| Provident Hospital of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $62 | $44 | — | 190 min | — |
| Hocking Valley Community Hospital | Logan, OH | $63 | $49 | — | — | — |
| Merrick Medical Center | Central City, NE | $63 | $101 | — | 127 min | — |
| Crete Area Medical Center | Crete, NE | $63 | $100 | — | 104 min | — |
| Arbuckle Memorial Hospital | Sulphur, OK | $63 | $77 | ★ 4/5 | 113 min | — |
| Smith County Emergency Hospital | Raleigh, MS | $65 | $216 | — | — | — |
| Covington County Hospital CAH | Collins, MS | $65 | $216 | — | 74 min | — |
| Hospital General De Castaner | Castaner, PR | $65 | $50 | — | — | — |
| Grove Hill Memorial Hospital | Grove Hill, AL | $65 | $283 | — | 166 min | — |
| Cimarron Memorial Hospital | Boise City, OK | $67 | $90 | — | 107 min | — |
| McKenzie Health System | Sandusky, MI | $67 | $55 | — | 133 min | — |
| Rosebud Health Care Center | Forsyth, MT | $67 | $66 | — | 97 min | — |
| Androscoggin Valley Hospital | Berlin, NH | $67 | $94 | ★ 2/5 | 112 min | — |
| Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center | Anniston, AL | $68 | $275 | ★ 1/5 | 244 min | — |
| Coleman County Medical Center Company | Coleman, TX | $68 | $55 | — | 130 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 Joint aspiration or injection (small joint)
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: $383; Medicare pays $56.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | 305 |
$17 – $272 |
| Amerigroup | 159 |
$24 – $324 |
| Univera | 15 |
$29 – $64 |
| Independent Health | 24 |
$40 – $409 |
| Medicare | 501 |
$14 – $365 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 116 |
$57 – $725 |
| AmeriHealth | 199 |
$19 – $959 |
| Tricare / VA | 351 |
$28 – $569 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 38 |
$81 – $788 |
| Molina Healthcare | 539 |
$25 – $970 |
| MVP Health Care | 69 |
$51 – $1,290 |
| Highmark | 120 |
$26 – $1,037 |
| Priority Health | 48 |
$40 – $2,571 |
| Geisinger | 68 |
$24 – $1,279 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 70 |
$36 – $686 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 745 |
$25 – $948 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 95 |
$25 – $815 |
| HealthPartners | 224 |
$33 – $814 |
| Devoted Health | 153 |
$58 – $363 |
| UCare | 74 |
$33 – $583 |
| Humana | 960 |
$34 – $2,569 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1214 |
$29 – $1,680 |
| Medica | 211 |
$60 – $1,004 |
| Anthem | 524 |
$23 – $2,821 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1437 |
$37 – $2,210 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 199 |
$33 – $911 |
| Security Health Plan | 55 |
$91 – $908 |
| Aetna | 1319 |
$51 – $3,289 |
| Health Net | 271 |
$57 – $1,259 |
| SelectHealth | 43 |
$120 – $4,882 |
| Coventry | 132 |
$100 – $1,433 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 744 |
$123 – $1,300 |
| AvMed | 58 |
$82 – $24,023 |
| EmblemHealth | 72 |
$86 – $5,014 |
| Cigna | 1085 |
$90 – $5,286 |
| Bright Health | 52 |
$407 – $2,644 |
| Oscar Health | 233 |
$145 – $3,100 |
| Healthcare Highways | 44 |
$265 – $14,612 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $108 |
| New Hampshire | $152 |
| Maryland | $156 |
| Alaska | $165 |
| Nebraska | $208 |
| Montana | $230 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyun Kang, D.P.M. | Podiatry | Garden Grove, CA | 1,361 |
| Douglas Livingston, D.P.M. | Podiatry | North Bellmore, NY | 1,078 |
| Parker Gennett, DPM | Podiatry | Binghamton, NY | 1,045 |
| Henry Ginsberg, DPM | Podiatry | West Hempstead, NY | 982 |
| Margaret Napolitano, M.D. | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | Lexington, KY | 957 |
| Cory Peters, PA | Physician Assistant | Jacksonville, FL | 888 |
| Madison Johnston, PA | Physician Assistant | Fort Worth, TX | 873 |
| George White, M.D. | Orthopedic Surgery | Orlando, FL | 809 |
| Jaewoo Pak, M.D. | Internal Medicine | Irvine, CA | 676 |
| Justin Kearse, M.D. | Hand Surgery | West Palm Beach, FL | 633 |
| Cynthia Harding, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | The Villages, FL | 632 |
| Lisa Longhofer, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Amarillo, TX | 626 |
Does Medicare cover Joint aspiration or injection (small joint)?
Yes — Medicare generally covers Joint aspiration or injection (small joint). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $56. 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 2131 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $383, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $697, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $343, a Medicare rate of about $56. Most cash prices fall between $118 and $1,067 — 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 or injection (small joint) cost without insurance?
Does Medicare cover Joint aspiration or injection (small joint)?
What does Medicare pay for Joint aspiration or injection (small joint)?
Why do Joint aspiration or injection (small joint) prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Other Procedures
See more Other Procedures.