US Health Care Costs

Emergency room visit, level 1 (minor) in California

CPT 99281 · hospital facility charge

Cash prices range from $210 to $3,526 at the 9 California hospitals whose price files we have read so far.

Estimate what you would pay

$389typical cash price
$350typical commercial insurer rate
$210–$3.5kcash price range, 9 hospitals
Cash price by hospital, lowest first
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
$210
Uci Health-Lakewood
$292
Uci Health-Orange
$292
University of California Davis Medical Center
$293
El Camino Health
$389
Mercy Medical Center Redding
$456
Stanford Health Care
$639
Sharp Memorial Hospital
$749
Good Samaritan Hospital
$3,526

California typical cash price: $389

California hospitals compared

HospitalCityList priceCash priceInsurers (median)
Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasEncinitas$840$210$680$67–$720 · 78 plans
Uci Health-LakewoodLakewood$729$292$168$159–$243 · 5 plans
Uci Health-OrangeOrange$729$292$168$159–$243 · 5 plans
University of California Davis Medical CenterSacramento$733$293$109$11–$163 · 9 plans
El Camino HealthMountain View$1,556$389–
Mercy Medical Center ReddingRedding$908$456$817$536–$5,455 · 15 plans
Stanford Health CareStanford$1,598$639–
Sharp Memorial HospitalSan Diego$999$749$350$176–$699 · 21 plans
Good Samaritan HospitalSan Jose$3,526$3,526$1,763$884–$2,821 · 33 plans
Only hospitals whose price files we've read are listed. The price is the hospital's part; the doctor (radiologist, surgeon, anesthesiologist) usually bills separately.

Common questions

How much does emergency room visit, level 1 (minor) cost at a hospital in California?

At 9 California hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for emergency room visit, level 1 (minor) is $389, and most charge between $275 and $1,305. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $350. These are hospital prices; independent clinics, imaging centers and labs often charge less.

Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for emergency room visit, level 1 (minor)?

At 2 of the 7 hospitals in California that publish both, the cash price is lower than the typical insurer rate. Remember that with insurance you pay only your share of that rate once your deductible is met, and that cash payments usually don't count toward your deductible.

Which hospital in California has the lowest cash price for emergency room visit, level 1 (minor)?

Of the hospitals whose price files we have read, the lowest published cash price is $210 at Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas. Confirm the price with the hospital before you book.

Does the price include the doctor?

No. These are the hospital's own charges, often called the facility fee. The doctors involved, such as the surgeon, the anesthesiologist or the radiologist who reads a scan, usually send a separate bill.

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