Joint injection (small joint) cost in Chicago, IL
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 55 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, small joint (fingers, toes): from $45.86 to $1,772.00, with a median of $312.50. The lowest listed price is at Humboldt Park Health — $266.64 less than the median here. Across Illinois, the median is $312.50 at 101 hospitals.
- The median here, $312.50, is 13% below the US median of $359.00.
- That is about the same as Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- 10 of 55 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 56 facilities across 39 cities for code 20600, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 10, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 1, 2025 and Nov 6, 2026.
Lowest$45.86Humboldt Park Health
Median$312.50half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,772.00in this market
Difference38.6×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
median
Lowest $45.86Highest $17,146.36
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt Park Health lowest Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint File of Sep 29, 2026 · source file | $45.86 | $163.80 | $54.05–$171.99 | 72% |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 626-4300 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Nov 5, 2026 · source file | $46.35 | $77.25 | $46.35–$716.09 | 40% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 PF-ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT SM RT+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $61.60 | $88.00 | $39.07–$70.40 | 30% |
| Morris Hospital one side Morris, IL · (815) 942-2932 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint+1 more line at this price File of Oct 27, 2026 · source file | $84.93 | $353.00 | $62.00–$363.59 | 76% |
| MacNeal Hospital Berwyn, IL · (708) 783-9100 Arthrocent Asp/Inj Sm Jnt/Bursa WO U/S Guid+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $109.25 | $575.00 | $109.25–$796.38 | 81% |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL · (708) 681-3200 Arthrocent Asp/Inj Sm Jnt/Bursa WO U/S Guid+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $109.25 | $575.00 | $134.77–$2,252.00 | 81% |
| La Rabida Children's Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 363-6700 JOINT INJECTION SMALL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $123.91 | $123.91 | — | — |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL · (708) 216-9000 Arthrocent Asp/Inj Sm Jnt/Bursa WO U/S Guid+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $132.25 | $575.00 | $134.77–$606.05 | 77% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL Drain/Inject Small Joint/Bursa File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $178.75 | $275.00 | $37.13–$150.15 | 35% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL Drain/Inject Small Joint/Bursa File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $178.75 | $275.00 | $37.13–$150.15 | 35% |
| Franciscan Health Munster Munster, IN · (219) 922-4200 Drain/Inject Sm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $194.26 | $912.00 | $285.87–$621.98 | 79% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL · (630) 545-8000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ SMALL JT/BURSA W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $212.50 | $850.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL · (630) 312-5000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ SMALL JT/BURSA W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $212.50 | $850.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange La Grange, IL · (708) 352-1200 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ SMALL JT/BURSA W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $212.50 | $850.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL · (630) 856-9000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ SMALL JT/BURSA W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $212.50 | $850.00 | — | 75% |
| Franciscan Health Rensselaer Rensselaer, IN · (219) 866-5141 Drain/Inject Sm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $228.76 | $639.00 | $159.75–$1,022.40 | 64% |
| Franciscan Health Crown Point Crown Point, IN · (219) 757-6100 Drain/Inject Sm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $235.30 | $912.00 | $912.00 | 74% |
| Franciscan Health Dyer Dyer, IN · (219) 865-2141 Drain/Inject Sm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $246.24 | $912.00 | $285.87–$621.98 | 73% |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint File of Sep 29, 2026 · source file | $251.96 | $899.85 | $406.73–$944.84 | 72% |
| Community First Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 282-7000 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $258.13 | $516.25 | $140.94–$516.25 | 50% |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL · (847) 618-1000 Hb Arthrocentesis, Aspiration, And/Or Inj Small Joint Or Bursa File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $273.00 | $273.00 | — | — |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 665-3000 HC DRAIN/INJECT SM JNT/BURSA File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $273.24 | $828.00 | $389.16 | 67% |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 DRAIN/INJECT SMALL JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $296.00 | $296.00 | — | — |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL DRAIN/INJECT SMALL JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $296.00 | $296.00 | — | — |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 DRAIN/INJECT SMALL JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $296.00 | $296.00 | — | — |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL · (312) 227-4000 H ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ SMALL JT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $305.20 | $436.00 | $74.12–$1,474.00 | 30% |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 6, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL · (847) 742-9800 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $231.88–$3,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 967-5002 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$22,920.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$3,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 INJ/ASPIRATE SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $312.50 | $625.00 | $246.25–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet Joliet, IL · (815) 725-7133 JOINT ASPIRATION, SIMPLE - 20600 - 36100380+2 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $960.00 | $33.81–$960.00 | 66% |
| Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 316-4000 HC DRAIN/INJECT SMALL JOINT/BURSA File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $828.00 | $35.04–$828.00 | 61% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 ED ID Aspirate Arthrocentesis - fingers or toes BCE+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $330.33 | $971.57 | $161.57–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 ORTHO ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ SMALL JOINT BCE File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $366.32 | $1,077.40 | $179.17–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 BONE-JOINT ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ SMALL JOINT BCE File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $403.47 | $1,186.67 | $197.34–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL Arthrocentesis Asp/Inj Small Joint/Bursa+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $410.15 | $631.00 | $85.19–$344.53 | 35% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL Arthrocentesis Asp/Inj Small Joint/Bursa+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $410.15 | $631.00 | $85.19–$344.53 | 35% |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 626-4300 SMALL JOINT ASPIRATION/INJ 4&5+1 more line at this price File of Nov 5, 2026 · source file | $429.65 | $716.09 | $46.35–$716.09 | 40% |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 WSMC ARTHROCENTESIS, ASP,INJ SML JNT+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $447.42 | $1,315.94 | $194.63–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center one side Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 WSMC ASPIR/INJ SM JNT WO/US RT BCE+1 more line at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $447.42 | $1,315.94 | $195.29–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Franciscan Health Rensselaer Rensselaer, IN · (219) 866-5141 Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Small Jt/Bursa W/O US File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $510.15 | $1,425.00 | $285.87–$785.31 | 64% |
| Jackson Park Hospital Foundation Chicago, IL · (773) 947-7500 ARTHROCENTESIS (SMALL JOINT) File of Dec 26, 2025 · source file | $515.30 | $644.13 | — | 20% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT SMALL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $784.00 | $38.35–$627.20 | 30% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT SMALL LT+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $784.00 | $39.07–$627.20 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL · (815) 344-5000 HB Arthrocentesis, Aspiration/Injection; Small Joint W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $587.30 | $839.00 | $161.93–$839.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB Arthrocentesis, Aspiration/Injection; Small Joint W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $587.30 | $839.00 | $839.00 | 30% |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 S-JOINT ASP-INJ SM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $634.50 | $2,350.00 | $29.49–$1,974.00 | 73% |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB Arthrocentesis, Aspiration/Injection; Small Joint W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $673.40 | $962.00 | $482.92–$962.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB Arthrocentesis, Aspiration/Injection; Small Joint W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $673.40 | $962.00 | $962.00 | 30% |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB Arthrocentesis, Aspiration/Injection; Small Joint W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $674.80 | $964.00 | $964.00 | 30% |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ SMALL JOINT/BURSA+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $679.00 | $679.00 | — | — |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ SMALL JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $679.00 | $679.00 | — | — |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ SMALL JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $679.00 | $679.00 | — | — |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 926-2000 HB Arthrocentesis, Aspiration/Injection; Small Joint W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $919.10 | $1,313.00 | $839.00–$1,313.00 | 30% |
| Methodist Hospital-Southlake Merrillville, IN · (219) 886-4000 Drain/Inj Small Jnt-Ie;Fngr Toe File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $938.00 | $1,340.00 | $285.87–$1,535.66 | 30% |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 Drain/Inj Small Jnt-Ie;Fngr Toe File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $938.00 | $1,340.00 | $285.87–$1,535.66 | 30% |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL · (708) 333-2300 Hc Arthrocentesis, Aspiration And/Or Injection, Small Joint Or Bursa; Without Ultrasound Guidance File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $938.00 | $938.00 | — | — |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Arthrocentesis, Aspiration And/Or Injection, Small Joint Or Bursa; Without Ultrasound Guidance+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,124.00 | $1,124.00 | — | — |
| Shriners Childrens - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 622-5400 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $1,385.01 | $1,385.01 | $30.86–$460.52 | — |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL · (331) 221-1000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS OR INJECT SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,772.00 | $1,772.00 | — | — |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL · (630) 527-3000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS OR INJECT SMALL JOINT W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,772.00 | $1,772.00 | — | — |
| Franciscan Health Crown Point Crown Point, IN · (219) 757-6100 Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Small Jt/Bursa W/O US File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $2,743.38 | $10,633.25 | $10,633.25 | 74% |
| Franciscan Health Munster Munster, IN · (219) 922-4200 Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Small Jt/Bursa W/O US File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $2,798.14 | $13,136.79 | $285.87–$10,106.00 | 79% |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 DRAIN/INJECT, JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $17,146.36 | $63,505.03 | $29.49–$53,344.23 | 73% |
| Mercy Medical Center both sides Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 ARTHROCENTESIS SM JNT BILAT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $684.00 | $33.81–$684.00 | 52% |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $45.86, median $312.50, highest $1,772.00 — a 38.6× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $327.00, median $327.00, highest $327.00.
The two groups are not comparable and are not averaged together: a
price for both sides of the body covers twice the work. Merging them is how a single
published "median" ends up far above what one side actually costs.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 38 facilities here, median $308.85. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 38 of 41 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 10 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What joint injection (small joint) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (small joint) explained.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 20600 ($354.60). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| Hospital | Cash price | File |
|---|---|---|
| Morris Hospital Morris, ILAspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint | $21.17 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.