Lumbar discectomy cost without insurance
The median cash price for Lumbar discectomy is $9,692.39 across 450 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $3,255.20 and $25,430.90.
A lumbar discectomy removes the part of a herniated disc that presses on a nerve, usually at L4-L5 or L5-S1, and is the most common back surgery. It is often a same-day or overnight procedure. A laminectomy for spinal stenosis costs about the same; a spinal fusion, with implants and a longer stay, costs much more. Many people improve with physical therapy, injections and time, so surgery is usually a later step.
Collected Nov 10, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Lumbar discectomy prices by type
63030 is a lumbar discectomy (laminotomy) at one level and is used in the state table; 63047 is a lumbar laminectomy for spinal stenosis; 22551 is a neck fusion (ACDF); and 22612 is a lumbar fusion, which has its own page.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Middle 80% | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumbar discectomy Lumbar discectomy or laminotomy to free a nerve root, one level · code 63030 | 450 | $3,255.20–$25,430.90 | $9,692.39 | — |
| Lumbar laminectomy Lumbar laminectomy (spinal decompression), one level · code 63047 | 425 | $3,889.18–$28,116.79 | $9,757.20 | — |
| ACDF (neck fusion) Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), one level · code 22551 | 381 | $3,689.06–$40,164.76 | $13,964.00 | — |
| Lumbar fusion Lumbar spinal fusion (posterior), one level · code 22612 | 339 | $3,263.81–$47,518.93 | $17,527.00 | — |
What the hospital price covers
The hospital price is usually the facility fee for the operation. The surgeon, the anesthesiologist and follow-up visits bill separately, and implants and nights in the hospital may be extra.
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Lumbar discectomy: median by state
States with at least 5 hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its lumbar discectomy prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Montana$4,006.90
- Arkansas$5,559.92
- New Jersey$5,580.00
- Minnesota$5,660.16
- West Virginia$5,721.75
- Louisiana$7,740.00
- New York$8,453.60
- Illinois$8,572.26
- Georgia$8,747.20
- Texas$8,789.82
- California$9,286.00
- Kansas$9,600.00
- Oklahoma$9,637.75
- Washington$10,148.13
- Tennessee$10,321.42
- Michigan$10,332.61
- Mississippi$11,573.92
- Colorado$12,042.96
- Missouri$13,367.05
- Indiana$13,860.80
- Florida$13,864.04
- Pennsylvania$13,891.49
- Idaho$14,738.00
- Alabama$14,981.93
- Wisconsin$15,678.65
- New Mexico$17,143.91
- Ohio$25,220.41
- Virginia$26,354.77
Lumbar discectomy: median by metro area
Metro areas with at least 10 hospitals.
- Chicago, IL$10,960.15
- Los Angeles, CA$3,255.20
- New York, NY$8,453.60
- San Diego, CA$4,907.95
- San Francisco, CA$19,471.20
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for a bundled self-pay price that includes the surgeon, anesthesia, facility and follow-up visits; hospital file prices usually cover only the facility.
- Ask whether screws, rods, cages and bone graft are included, since implants can be a large part of the price.
- Consider a second opinion before a fusion.
Questions
How much does back surgery cost without insurance?
The median hospital cash price for Lumbar discectomy (code 63030) is $9,692.39 across 450 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price; most charge $3,255.20 to $25,430.90. By state, the median runs from $4,006.90 in Montana to $26,354.77 in Virginia. The hospital price is usually the facility fee for the operation. The surgeon, the anesthesiologist and follow-up visits bill separately, and implants and nights in the hospital may be extra.
Is back surgery done as an outpatient?
Discectomy often is; fusion usually needs a hospital stay.
How long is recovery?
A few weeks after discectomy and several months after fusion.
What should I try before surgery?
Physical therapy, medicines and injections help many people.