Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Chicago, IL
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 61 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle): from $56.23 to $2,062.00, with a median of $415.00. The lowest listed price is at Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard — $358.77 less than the median here. Across Illinois, the median is $415.00 at 110 hospitals.
- The median here, $415.00, is 9% above the US median of $379.80.
- That is 1.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- 11 of 61 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 61 facilities across 43 cities for code 20605, 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$56.23Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard
Median$415.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$2,062.00in this market
Difference36.7×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 $56.23Highest $6,163.78
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard lowest Harvard, IL · (815) 943-5431 HC ARTHRCNTSIS-INTM JT/BRSA 20605 File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $56.23 | $74.97 | — | 25% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 PF-ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT MD File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $63.00 | $90.00 | $45.43–$72.00 | 30% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 PF-ARTHROENT ASP/INJ JT MED RT+3 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $63.00 | $90.00 | $39.07–$72.00 | 30% |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Sep 29, 2026 · source file | $64.09 | $228.90 | $75.54–$240.35 | 72% |
| Morris Hospital one side Morris, IL · (815) 942-2932 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint+1 more line at this price File of Oct 27, 2026 · source file | $85.17 | $354.00 | $62.00–$364.62 | 76% |
| Morris Hospital Morris, IL · (815) 942-2932 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Oct 27, 2026 · source file | $151.58 | $630.00 | $245.70–$648.90 | 76% |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL · (708) 681-3200 Asp/Inj Intermediate Jt/Bursa WO U/S Guid+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $153.14 | $806.00 | $138.72–$2,252.00 | 81% |
| MacNeal Hospital Berwyn, IL · (708) 783-9100 Asp/Inj Intermediate Jt/Bursa WO U/S Guid+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $153.14 | $806.00 | $52.93–$1,116.31 | 81% |
| La Rabida Children's Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 363-6700 JOINT INJECTION MEDIUM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $165.51 | $165.51 | — | — |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL Drain/Inject Medium Joint/Bursa File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $178.75 | $275.00 | $37.13–$150.15 | 35% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL Drain/Inject Medium Joint/Bursa File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $178.75 | $275.00 | $37.13–$150.15 | 35% |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL · (708) 216-9000 HC Arthrocentesis Intermed Joint+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $185.38 | $806.00 | $138.72–$1,320.00 | 77% |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL · (815) 756-1521 HB Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $204.40 | $292.00 | $146.58–$292.00 | 30% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL · (630) 312-5000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS 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 INTERM JT/BURS 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 INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $212.50 | $850.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL · (630) 545-8000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $212.50 | $850.00 | — | 75% |
| Franciscan Health Munster Munster, IN · (219) 922-4200 Drain/Inj Interm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $220.46 | $1,035.00 | $285.87–$1,098.38 | 79% |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Sep 29, 2026 · source file | $251.96 | $899.85 | $406.73–$944.84 | 72% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 BONE-JOINT ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MEDIUM JOINT RT BCE File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $253.13 | $744.49 | $123.81–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Community First Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 282-7000 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $271.25 | $542.50 | $148.10–$542.50 | 50% |
| Franciscan Health Crown Point Crown Point, IN · (219) 757-6100 Drain/Inj Interm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $274.51 | $1,064.00 | $1,064.00 | 74% |
| Franciscan Health Dyer Dyer, IN · (219) 865-2141 Drain/Inj Interm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $287.28 | $1,064.00 | $285.87–$1,034.26 | 73% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 ED ID Aspirate Arthro - temporomandibul/AC/wrist/elbow/ankle/olecranon bursa BCE+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $295.50 | $869.12 | $144.53–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL DRAIN/INJECT MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $296.00 | $296.00 | — | — |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 DRAIN/INJECT MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $296.00 | $296.00 | — | — |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 DRAIN/INJECT MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $296.00 | $296.00 | — | — |
| Roseland Community Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 995-3000 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $308.97 | $706.00 | $305.91–$776.60 | 56% |
| Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet Joliet, IL · (815) 725-7133 Drain/inj joint/bursa w/o us - 20605 - OR36020605+3 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $3,603.00 | $34.48–$3,603.00 | 91% |
| Mercy Medical Center Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 JOINT ASPIRATION, INTERMEDIAT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $592.00 | $34.48–$592.00 | 45% |
| Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 316-4000 HC DRAIN/INJECT INTERMEDIATE JOINT/BURSA File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $1,147.00 | $35.72–$1,147.00 | 71% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 ORTHO ARTHRO ASP/INJ MEDIUM JOINT RT BCE+1 more line at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $337.01 | $991.20 | $164.84–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 CHED ID Aspirate Arthro - temporomandibul/AC/wrist/elbow/ankle/olecranon bursa BCE+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $337.96 | $994.00 | $147.01–$818.00 | 66% |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center one side Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 XR Joint/Bursa Intmd Arthr/Asp/Inj Left+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $367.31 | $1,080.31 | $160.32–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Mercyhealth Crystal Lake Hospital & Medical Center Crystal Lake, IL · (792) 220-5500 HC ARTHRCNTSIS-INTM JT/BRSA 20605 File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $371.20 | $494.94 | — | 25% |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 665-3000 HC DRAIN/INJ INTERM JNT/BURSA File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $378.51 | $1,147.00 | $539.09 | 67% |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 967-5002 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$22,920.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$3,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL · (847) 742-9800 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $307.93–$3,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 6, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 INJ/ASPIRATE INTERM JOINT W/O US File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $415.00 | $830.00 | $327.02–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 626-4300 ARTHO/ASPR/INJ WRIST/ELBW L4&5+4 more lines at this price File of Nov 5, 2026 · source file | $429.65 | $716.09 | $30.90–$716.09 | 40% |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL · (847) 618-1000 Hb Arthrocentesis, Aspiration, And/Or Inj Intermediate Joint Or Bursa File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $430.00 | $430.00 | — | — |
| Franciscan Health Rensselaer Rensselaer, IN · (219) 866-5141 Drain/Inj Interm Jnt/Bursa Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $473.81 | $1,323.50 | $285.87–$785.31 | 64% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL Arthrocentesis Asp/Inj Medium Joint/Bursa+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $518.70 | $798.00 | $107.73–$435.71 | 35% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL Arthrocentesis Asp/Inj Medium Joint/Bursa+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $518.70 | $798.00 | $107.73–$435.71 | 35% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT MED RT +1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $784.00 | $40.08–$627.20 | 30% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT INTERMED 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 Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $585.90 | $837.00 | $161.54–$837.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $585.90 | $837.00 | $837.00 | 30% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL INJ/ASP INTERM JOINT W/O US BIL File of Nov 6, 2026 · source file | $620.00 | $1,240.00 | $476.96–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 INJ/ASP INTERM JOINT W/O US BIL File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $620.00 | $1,240.00 | $476.96–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL INJ/ASP INTERM JOINT W/O US BIL File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $620.00 | $1,240.00 | $476.96–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 INJ/ASP INTERM JOINT W/O US BIL File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $620.00 | $1,240.00 | $476.96–$4,270.00 | 50% |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 S-JOINT ASP-INJ IM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $664.20 | $2,460.00 | $30.16–$2,066.40 | 73% |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $710.50 | $1,015.00 | $1,015.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $721.70 | $1,031.00 | $517.56–$1,031.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $721.70 | $1,031.00 | $1,031.00 | 30% |
| Methodist Hospital-Southlake Merrillville, IN · (219) 886-4000 Drain/Inj Interm Joint/Bursa File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $809.90 | $1,157.00 | $63.99–$1,118.13 | 30% |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 Drain/Inj Interm Joint/Bursa File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $809.90 | $1,157.00 | $63.99–$1,118.13 | 30% |
| Methodist Hospital-Southlake Merrillville, IN · (219) 886-4000 Drain/Inj Int Joint/Bursa-(ED) File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $845.60 | $1,208.00 | $285.87–$1,535.66 | 30% |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 Drain/Inj Int Joint/Bursa-(ED) File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $845.60 | $1,208.00 | $285.87–$1,535.66 | 30% |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $859.00 | $859.00 | — | — |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $859.00 | $859.00 | — | — |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASP/INJ MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $859.00 | $859.00 | — | — |
| Jackson Park Hospital Foundation Chicago, IL · (773) 947-7500 ARTHROCENTESIS (INTERM JOINT) File of Dec 26, 2025 · source file | $861.39 | $1,076.74 | — | 20% |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL · (331) 221-1000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS OR INJECT INTERMED JOINT W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $873.00 | $873.00 | — | — |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL · (630) 527-3000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS OR INJECT INTERMED JOINT W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $873.00 | $873.00 | — | — |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 926-2000 HB Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $968.10 | $1,383.00 | $292.00–$1,383.00 | 30% |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL · (312) 227-4000 H IR 20605 ARTHROCENTESIS IMD JT WO US+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,013.60 | $1,448.00 | $246.16–$1,474.00 | 30% |
| Vista Medical Center East Waukegan, IL · (847) 360-3000 S-JOINT ASP-INJ IM File of Mar 31, 2025 · source file | $1,111.25 | $1,111.25 | $124.17–$393.47 | — |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL · (708) 333-2300 Hc Arthrocentesis, Aspiration And/Or Inj, Intermediate Joint Or Bursa; W/Out U/S Guid File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,144.00 | $1,144.00 | — | — |
| 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 | $31.74–$460.52 | — |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Arthrocentesis, Aspiration And/Or Inj, Intermediate Joint Or Bursa; W/Out U/S Guid+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,062.00 | $2,062.00 | — | — |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 DRAIN/INJECT, JOINT/BURSA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $6,163.78 | $22,828.82 | $30.16–$19,176.21 | 73% |
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard both sides Harvard, IL · (815) 943-5431 HC SP INTERMEDIATE JT INJ/ASP BILAT File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $262.36 | $349.82 | — | 25% |
| Mercy Medical Center both sides Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 ARTHROCENTESIS MED JNT BILAT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $327.00 | $592.00 | $34.48–$592.00 | 45% |
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 $56.23, median $415.00, highest $2,062.00 — a 36.7× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $262.36, median $294.68, highest $327.00 — a 1.2× difference within the same market.
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 41 facilities here, median $371.20. 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 41 of 45 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 8 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 (medium joint) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (medium joint) explained.
2 rows held back from this comparison
They are priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 20605 ($393.00). 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 medium joint | $23.10 | file |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, ILDRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $30.90 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.