Sed rate (ESR) cost in Chicago, IL
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 47 hospitals list a cash price for sed rate (ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate): from $4.90 to $200.90, with a median of $26.98. The lowest listed price is at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital — $22.08 less than the median here. Across Illinois, the median is $48.40 at 89 hospitals.
- The median here, $26.98, is 29% below the US median of $38.00.
- That is 10.0× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($2.70).
- 9 of 47 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 47 facilities across 34 cities for code 85652, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 9, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 17, 2025 and Nov 6, 2026.
Lowest$4.90John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital
Median$26.98half of hospitals charge less
Highest$200.90in this market
Difference41.0×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 $4.90Highest $200.90
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital lowest Chicago, IL · (312) 864-6000 SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4.90 | $7.00 | $0.76–$5.60 | 30% |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 Sedimentation Rate File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $6.29 | $18.50 | $2.62–$12.03 | 66% |
| MacNeal Hospital Berwyn, IL · (708) 783-9100 Sedimentation Rate (Esr) File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $17.67 | $93.00 | $0.46–$4.84 | 81% |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL · (708) 681-3200 Sedimentation Rate (Esr) File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $17.67 | $93.00 | $39.62–$77.93 | 81% |
| La Rabida Children's Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 363-6700 SED RATE/ESR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $17.76 | $17.76 | — | — |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 665-3000 HC SED RATE-AUTOMATED+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $18.48 | $56.00 | $2.70–$10.90 | 67% |
| Franciscan Health Munster Munster, IN · (219) 922-4200 Autom Erythrocyte Sed Rate File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $19.17 | $90.00 | $2.13–$109.00 | 79% |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL · (708) 216-9000 Sedimentation Rate (Esr) File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $21.39 | $93.00 | $46.50–$98.02 | 77% |
| Shriners Childrens - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 622-5400 RBC SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $22.40 | $22.40 | $2.40–$6.12 | — |
| Community First Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 282-7000 Red blood cell sedimentation rate, to detect inflammation, automated File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $23.00 | $46.00 | $1.24–$46.00 | 50% |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 926-2000 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $23.10 | $33.00 | $6.40–$142.00 | 30% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.00 | 50% |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$48.70 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.70 | 50% |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 967-5002 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL · (847) 742-9800 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$45.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$44.50 | 50% |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 3, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$40.00 | 50% |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL SED RATE AUTOMATED File of Nov 6, 2026 · source file | $25.00 | $50.00 | $2.40–$44.50 | 50% |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Sedimentation Rate Auto-Laf File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $26.00 | $26.00 | — | — |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 Sedimentation Rate File of Mar 17, 2025 · source file | $26.98 | $79.34 | $2.62–$51.57 | 66% |
| Franciscan Health Crown Point Crown Point, IN · (219) 757-6100 Autom Erythrocyte Sed Rate File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $32.25 | $125.00 | $125.00 | 74% |
| Franciscan Health Dyer Dyer, IN · (219) 865-2141 Autom Erythrocyte Sed Rate File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $33.75 | $125.00 | $2.42–$109.00 | 73% |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL · (815) 756-1521 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $11.71–$64.00 | 30% |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $10.24–$64.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $4.42–$64.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL · (815) 344-5000 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $12.35–$64.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital Sandwich, IL · (815) 786-8484 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $12.16–$64.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (312) 926-2000 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $12.42–$64.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $9.54–$64.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB Ref Sed Rate by Modified Westergren (Q) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $44.80 | $64.00 | $10.62–$64.00 | 30% |
| Morris Hospital Morris, IL · (815) 942-2932 Red blood cell sedimentation rate, to detect inflammation, automated File of Oct 27, 2026 · source file | $49.80 | $207.00 | $89.42–$213.21 | 76% |
| Northwest Health - Porter Valparaiso, IN · (219) 983-8300 ESRA File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $51.84 | $192.00 | $2.39–$161.28 | 73% |
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Harvard Harvard, IL · (815) 943-5431 CHG SEDIMENTATION RATE RBC AUTOMATED File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $55.40 | $73.87 | — | 25% |
| Mercyhealth Crystal Lake Hospital & Medical Center Crystal Lake, IL · (792) 220-5500 CHG SEDIMENTATION RATE RBC AUTOMATED File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $55.40 | $73.87 | — | 25% |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $60.90 | $87.00 | $13.92–$87.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $67.20 | $96.00 | $14.30–$96.00 | 30% |
| Franciscan Health Rensselaer Rensselaer, IN · (219) 866-5141 Autom Erythrocyte Sed Rate File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $76.25 | $213.00 | $2.42–$170.40 | 64% |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL · (815) 756-1521 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $110.00 | $20.13–$110.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital Sandwich, IL · (815) 786-8484 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $78.40 | $112.00 | $21.28–$112.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $79.80 | $114.00 | $18.92–$114.00 | 30% |
| Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL · (815) 344-5000 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $79.80 | $114.00 | $22.00–$114.00 | 30% |
| Vista Medical Center East Waukegan, IL · (847) 360-3000 SED RATE, AUTOMATED File of Mar 31, 2025 · source file | $95.44 | $95.44 | $2.70–$13.46 | — |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB Sedimentation Rate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $99.40 | $142.00 | $9.80–$142.00 | 30% |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL · (312) 227-4000 H SEDIMENTATION RATE RBC AUTOMATED File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $106.40 | $152.00 | $25.84–$144.40 | 30% |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL · (847) 618-1000 Hb Rbc Sed Rate Automated File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $123.00 | $123.00 | — | — |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Sedimentation Rate Auto File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $141.00 | $141.00 | — | — |
| Uchicago Medicine Northwest Indiana Crown Point, IN · (312) 755-4706 HC SEDIMENTATION RATE AUTO File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.00 | $142.00 | — | — |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL · (708) 333-2300 Hc Sedimentation Rate Auto File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.00 | $142.00 | — | — |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL · (331) 221-1000 HC SEDIMENTATION RATE ERYTHROCYTE AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $170.00 | $170.00 | — | — |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL · (630) 527-3000 HC SEDIMENTATION RATE ERYTHROCYTE AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $170.00 | $170.00 | — | — |
| Methodist Hospital-Southlake Merrillville, IN · (219) 886-4000 Sed Rate,Westergren Auto File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $200.90 | $287.00 | $2.70–$255.43 | 30% |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 Sed Rate,Westergren Auto File of Aug 18, 2026 · source file | $200.90 | $287.00 | $2.70–$255.43 | 30% |
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.
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 $4.90, median $26.98, highest $200.90 — a 41.0× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 30 facilities here, median $25.50. 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 34 of 38 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 4 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 sed rate (ESR) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Sed rate (ESR) explained.
8 rows held back from this comparison
They are priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 85652 ($36.80). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet Joliet, ILERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE | $2.00 | file |
| Mercy Medical Center Aurora, ILERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE | $2.00 | file |
| Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, ILHC RBC SED RATE, AUTO | $2.00 | file |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, ILRed blood cell sedimentation rate, to detect inflammation, automated | $2.06 | file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, ILHC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED | $2.25 | file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, ILHC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED | $2.25 | file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, ILHC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED | $2.25 | file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange La Grange, ILHC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED | $2.25 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.