Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Illinois

In Illinois, 113 hospitals publish a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $59.39 to $2,540.00, with a median of $494.00. The lowest price is at Humboldt Park Health (Chicago). The highest price is 42.8× the lowest.

• The median here, $494.00, is 12% above the US median of $439.76.
• That is 1.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
• Illinois ranks 34th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
• 27 of 113 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.

Illinois law (Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act, 210 ILCS 89): an uninsured Illinois resident with family income up to 600% of the federal poverty level (300% at rural and critical access hospitals) can apply for a discount that brings the bill down to about 135% of the hospital's cost; up to 200% (125% at rural hospitals) medically necessary care is free. A hospital may collect no more than 25% of family income in 12 months. Ask the billing office for the application. Other states' laws.

Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 20610. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 10, 2026. See them on a map