Cost of a Joint Injection Visit
in South Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Carolina's healthcare market operates at approximately 1% below national averages, creating competitive pricing opportunities for specialty services across the Palmetto State. Joint Injection patients typically pay between $41.65 and $131.0, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $76.66 based on negotiated insurance rates. With 1,436 active Joint Injection providers throughout South Carolina, patients have substantial choice when selecting care that fits their budget and location preferences.
Average
$83
Median
$77
Lowest
$42
Highest
$131
Providers
1,436
31% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does joint injection compare to related procedures in South Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Biopsy Tangential biopsy of skin | 11102 | $34 | $85 | $186 | 1,127 |
| Abscess Drainage (I&D) Incision and drainage of abscess, simple | 10060 | $80 | $106 | $232 | 1,417 |
| Blood Draw (Venipuncture) Routine venipuncture for blood sample | 36415 | $2 | $3 | $85 | 1,496 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 20610 — Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 20610 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 20610 covers: the provider's professional fee for joint injection. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Joint Injection Visit Costs Vary Across South Carolina
South Carolina's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive provider market across both urban centers and rural communities. The state's geographic diversity, from coastal Charleston to upstate Greenville-Spartanburg, creates distinct regional healthcare markets with varying cost structures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Charleston-North Charleston metropolitan area and Greenville-Spartanburg region concentrate most Joint Injection specialists, while rural counties often require patients to travel significant distances for care. This geographic disparity means rural residents may face higher total costs when factoring in travel expenses, though base procedure costs are often lower outside major cities. Telehealth consultations help bridge some access gaps, though injection procedures still require in-person visits.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large health systems like MUSC Health, Prisma Health, and AnMed Health operate hospital-based outpatient clinics with higher overhead costs reflected in procedure pricing. Independent orthopedic and pain management practices throughout South Carolina typically offer more competitive rates for Joint Injection procedures. Ambulatory surgery centers provide a middle-ground option with lower costs than hospitals but more comprehensive facilities than office-based practices.
Insurance Market Competition in South Carolina
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina maintains the largest market share, followed by UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, creating moderate competition that helps control Joint Injection procedure costs. The state's insurance market lacks the intense competition seen in larger states, but sufficient options exist to negotiate reasonable rates with providers. Employer-sponsored plans dominate the market, with limited individual market options affecting pricing dynamics.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Carolina
With 1,436 active Joint Injection providers serving the state's 5.2 million residents, South Carolina maintains adequate specialist availability in most regions. This provider-to-population ratio helps keep costs competitive, particularly in metropolitan areas with multiple practice options. Rural areas experience some specialist shortages, which can increase wait times but doesn't necessarily drive up per-procedure costs.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Joint Injection Costs in South Carolina
What is the average cost of a Joint Injection visit in South Carolina without insurance?
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover Joint Injection visits?
How do I find an affordable Joint Injection near me in South Carolina?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Joint Injection visit in South Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Joint Injection in South Carolina?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 20610)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $72 – $487 | $246 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Range: $55 – $538 | $227 |
| 3 | Minnesota Range: $57 – $487 | $224 |
| 4 | Rhode Island Range: $42 – $538 | $223 |
| 5 | Connecticut Range: $44 – $538 | $222 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania Range: $43 – $538 | $220 |
| 7 | Delaware Range: $41 – $538 | $220 |
| 8 | New York Range: $44 – $538 | $220 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $52 – $487 | $208 |
| 10 | North Dakota Range: $44 – $307 | $144 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $61 – $256 | $142 |
| 12 | South Dakota Range: $48 – $268 | $134 |
| 13 | West Virginia Range: $42 – $264 | $131 |
| 14 | Michigan Range: $45 – $254 | $127 |
| 15 | New Hampshire Range: $65 – $185 | $122 |
| 16 | District of Columbia Range: $40 – $221 | $116 |
| 17 | Wyoming Range: $60 – $201 | $116 |
| 18 | Nebraska Range: $56 – $155 | $114 |
| 19 | Kentucky Range: $48 – $209 | $114 |
| 20 | Georgia Range: $45 – $211 | $114 |
| 21 | California Range: $64 – $185 | $112 |
| 22 | Idaho Range: $51 – $202 | $111 |
| 23 | Colorado Range: $45 – $208 | $111 |
| 24 | Indiana Range: $50 – $191 | $110 |
| 25 | Illinois Range: $50 – $191 | $108 |
| 26 | Maine Range: $75 – $128 | $105 |
| 27 | Oregon Range: $58 – $167 | $103 |
| 28 | New Jersey Range: $34 – $205 | $101 |
| 29 | Washington Range: $62 – $152 | $98 |
| 30 | North Carolina Range: $45 – $158 | $95 |
| 31 | New Mexico Range: $51 – $141 | $93 |
| 32 | Vermont Range: $48 – $152 | $92 |
| 33 | Utah Range: $37 – $142 | $90 |
| 34 | Maryland Range: $39 – $167 | $89 |
| 35 | Oklahoma Range: $38 – $136 | $87 |
| 36 | South Carolina Range: $42 – $131 | $83 |
| 37 | Texas Range: $45 – $119 | $83 |
| 38 | Mississippi Range: $38 – $151 | $82 |
| 39 | Montana Range: $70 – $95 | $82 |
| 40 | Alaska Range: $80 – $85 | $82 |
| 41 | Arkansas Range: $47 – $116 | $82 |
| 42 | Virginia Range: $35 – $138 | $80 |
| 43 | Nevada Range: $35 – $140 | $79 |
| 44 | Missouri Range: $43 – $101 | $77 |
| 45 | Louisiana Range: $38 – $115 | $75 |
| 46 | Ohio Range: $38 – $106 | $75 |
| 47 | Alabama Range: $38 – $117 | $74 |
| 48 | Tennessee Range: $42 – $111 | $74 |
| 49 | Kansas Range: $43 – $100 | $70 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $109 | $66 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $38 – $102 | $64 |