Blood culture cost in Illinois

In Illinois, 111 hospitals publish a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $18.20 to $414.77, with a median of $144.59. The lowest price is at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital (Chicago). The highest price is 22.8× the lowest.

• The median here, $144.59, is 25% above the US median of $115.50.
• That is 14.0× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($10.32).
• Illinois ranks 36th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
• 29 of 111 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 87040. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 10, 2026. See them on a map