Thoracentesis cost in Chicago, IL
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 59 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $182.00 to $6,145.68, with a median of $1,172.50. The lowest listed price is at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital — $990.50 less than the median here. Across Illinois, the median is $1,250.00 at 99 hospitals.
- The median here, $1,172.50, is 4% below the US median of $1,224.53.
- That is 1.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($640.89).
- 10 of 59 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 59 facilities across 43 cities for code 32555, 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$182.00John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital
Median$1,172.50half of hospitals charge less
Highest$6,145.68in this market
Difference33.8×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 $182.00Highest $6,914.10
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital one side lowest Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 PF-THORACEN-PLEURAL W/GUIDE LT+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $182.00 | $260.00 | $115.05–$208.00 | 30% |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 626-4300 THORACENTESIS W/CHEST TUBE File of Nov 5, 2026 · source file | $221.24 | $368.74 | $167.71–$1,680.33 | 40% |
| MacNeal Hospital Berwyn, IL · (708) 783-9100 Thoracentesis W/ Imag Guid+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $366.13 | $1,927.00 | $110.85–$2,668.90 | 81% |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL · (708) 681-3200 Thoracentesis W/ Imag Guid+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $366.13 | $1,927.00 | $417.53–$2,252.00 | 81% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imag File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $369.85 | $569.00 | $76.82–$310.67 | 35% |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imag File of Jan 1, 2025 · source file | $369.85 | $569.00 | $76.82–$310.67 | 35% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL · (630) 545-8000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $375.00 | $1,500.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL · (630) 312-5000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $375.00 | $1,500.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange La Grange, IL · (708) 352-1200 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $375.00 | $1,500.00 | — | 75% |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL · (630) 856-9000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $375.00 | $1,500.00 | — | 75% |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL · (708) 216-9000 Thoracentesis Asp Pleural Space W/ Imag Guid+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $443.21 | $1,927.00 | $417.53–$4,183.00 | 77% |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance File of Sep 29, 2026 · source file | $468.21 | $1,672.17 | $755.82–$1,755.78 | 72% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 US Thoracentesis Left BCE+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $551.51 | $1,622.08 | $269.75–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 CHED Airway/Intubation Procedures Thoracentesis w/ Imaging BCE+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $579.49 | $1,704.37 | $283.44–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 CT Thoracentesis w/ CT Guidance Left+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $593.97 | $1,746.98 | $290.52–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAG File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $628.00 | $628.00 | — | — |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAG File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $628.00 | $628.00 | — | — |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAG File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $628.00 | $628.00 | — | — |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 ED Airway/Intubation Procedure -> Thoracentesis w/ imaging+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $634.91 | $1,867.37 | $276.18–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Franciscan Health Munster Munster, IN · (219) 922-4200 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $646.24 | $3,034.00 | $663.69–$3,057.00 | 79% |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center one side Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 CT Thoracentesis w/ CT Guidance Left+7 more lines at this price File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $650.78 | $1,914.05 | $284.05–$5,099.00 | 66% |
| Mercy Medical Center Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 THORACENT ASP PLUER SPACE W IG - 32555 - 35044205+2 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $668.00 | $1,458.00 | $100.39–$1,458.00 | 54% |
| Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet Joliet, IL · (815) 725-7133 THORACENT PUNCT PLEURAL+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $668.00 | $1,512.00 | $100.39–$1,512.00 | 56% |
| Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 316-4000 HC THORACENTESIS NDL/CATH PLEURA ASP W IMAG File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $668.00 | $2,139.00 | $103.95–$2,139.00 | 69% |
| Franciscan Health Rensselaer Rensselaer, IN · (219) 866-5141 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $678.41 | $1,895.00 | $473.75–$3,057.00 | 64% |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL · (815) 756-1521 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $700.00 | $1,000.00 | $502.00–$1,000.00 | 30% |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 665-3000 HC THORACENTESIS, NDL/CATH ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAG File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $705.87 | $2,139.00 | $1,005.33 | 67% |
| Franciscan Health Crown Point Crown Point, IN · (219) 757-6100 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $747.68 | $2,898.00 | $2,898.00–$5,796.00 | 74% |
| Franciscan Health Dyer Dyer, IN · (219) 865-2141 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging Hcode File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $782.46 | $2,898.00 | $663.69–$2,113.69 | 73% |
| Morris Hospital Morris, IL · (815) 942-2932 Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance+1 more line at this price File of Oct 27, 2026 · source file | $831.03 | $3,454.00 | $1,347.06–$3,557.62 | 76% |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 S-THORACNTSIS W IMG - GL106+3 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $957.69 | $3,547.00 | $89.15–$2,979.48 | 73% |
| Loretto Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 626-4300 THORACENTECIS W/ IMAGING File of Nov 5, 2026 · source file | $1,008.20 | $1,680.33 | $167.71–$1,680.33 | 40% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 THORACENTESIS-PLEURAL W/GUIDE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,122.10 | $1,603.00 | $115.05–$1,282.40 | 30% |
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital one side Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 THORACENTESIS-PLEURAL W/G RT +1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,122.10 | $1,603.00 | $115.05–$1,282.40 | 30% |
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard Harvard, IL · (815) 943-5431 HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $1,147.70 | $1,530.27 | — | 25% |
| Community First Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 282-7000 Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,172.50 | $2,345.00 | $640.19–$2,345.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL · (847) 742-9800 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $927.50–$3,430.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 6, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $981.93–$3,430.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $981.93–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 967-5002 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$22,920.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $1,250.00 | $2,500.00 | $974.73–$4,490.00 | 50% |
| Roseland Community Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 995-3000 Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $1,250.40 | $1,576.25 | $400.00–$1,733.88 | 21% |
| Mercyhealth Crystal Lake Hospital & Medical Center Crystal Lake, IL · (792) 220-5500 HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $1,507.40 | $2,009.86 | — | 25% |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL · (312) 227-4000 H 32555 THORACENTESIS W IMAGING GUIDANCE+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,863.40 | $2,662.00 | $452.54–$2,528.90 | 30% |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 Thoracent, Aspirate Pleura W Imaging Guid File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $2,021.60 | $2,888.00 | $130.76–$2,570.32 | 30% |
| Methodist Hospital-Southlake Merrillville, IN · (219) 886-4000 Thoracent, Aspirate Pleura W Imaging Guid File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $2,021.60 | $2,888.00 | $130.76–$2,570.32 | 30% |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,023.70 | $2,891.00 | $2,891.00 | 30% |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL · (630) 527-3000 HC THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION PLEURAL SPACE W IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,220.00 | $2,220.00 | — | — |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL · (331) 221-1000 HC THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION PLEURAL SPACE W IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,220.00 | $2,220.00 | — | — |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,586.88 | $9,581.05 | $89.15–$8,048.08 | 73% |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL · (847) 618-1000 Hb Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,955.00 | $2,955.00 | — | — |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 926-2000 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,192.70 | $4,561.00 | $1,000.00–$5,985.00 | 30% |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,372.60 | $4,818.00 | $4,818.00 | 30% |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 HB THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAG File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,431.00 | $3,431.00 | — | — |
| Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL HB THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAG File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,431.00 | $3,431.00 | — | — |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 HB THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAG File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,431.00 | $3,431.00 | — | — |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,189.50 | $5,985.00 | $5,985.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,189.50 | $5,985.00 | $3,004.47–$5,985.00 | 30% |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Thoracentesis, Needle Or Catheter, Aspiration Of The Pleural Space; With Imaging Guidance+3 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,278.00 | $4,278.00 | — | — |
| Uchicago Medicine Northwest Indiana Crown Point, IN · (312) 755-4706 HC THORACENTESIS, NEEDLE OR CATHETER, ASPIRATION OF THE PLEURAL SPACE; WITH IMAGING GUIDANCE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,486.00 | $4,486.00 | — | — |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL · (708) 333-2300 Hc Thoracentesis, Needle Or Catheter, Aspiration Of The Pleural Space; With Imaging Guidance File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,486.00 | $4,486.00 | — | — |
| Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL · (815) 344-5000 HB Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $5,905.00 | $8,435.71 | $246.40 | 30% |
| Vista Medical Center East Waukegan, IL · (847) 360-3000 CT-THORACNTSIS W IMG File of Mar 31, 2025 · source file | $6,145.68 | $6,145.68 | $573.27–$2,111.00 | — |
| Vista Medical Center East Waukegan, IL · (847) 360-3000 US-THORACNTSIS W IMG File of Mar 31, 2025 · source file | $6,285.56 | $6,285.56 | $245.00–$886.26 | — |
| Vista Medical Center East Waukegan, IL · (847) 360-3000 IR-THORACNTSIS W IMG File of Mar 31, 2025 · source file | $6,914.10 | $6,914.10 | $245.00–$974.89 | — |
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 $182.00, median $1,172.50, highest $6,145.68 — a 33.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 39 facilities here, median $1,250.00. 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 40 of 44 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 9 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 thoracentesis is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Thoracentesis explained.