US Health Care Costs

Emergency room visit, level 4 in California

CPT 99284 · hospital facility charge

Cash prices range from $1,985 to $13,840 at the 9 California hospitals whose price files we have read so far.

Estimate what you would pay

$4,591typical cash price
$4,576typical commercial insurer rate
$2.0k–$14kcash price range, 9 hospitals
Cash price by hospital, lowest first
El Camino Health
$1,985
Uci Health-Lakewood
$2,045
Uci Health-Orange
$2,045
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
$2,940
University of California Davis Medical Center
$4,591
Stanford Health Care
$4,744
Mercy Medical Center Redding
$7,503
Sharp Memorial Hospital
$7,800
Good Samaritan Hospital
$13,840

California typical cash price: $4,591

California hospitals compared

HospitalCityList priceCash priceInsurers (median)
El Camino HealthMountain View$7,938$1,985–
Uci Health-LakewoodLakewood$5,112$2,045$832$789–$1,202 · 5 plans
Uci Health-OrangeOrange$5,112$2,045$832$789–$1,202 · 5 plans
Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasEncinitas$11,759$2,940$9,525$941–$10,077 · 78 plans
University of California Davis Medical CenterSacramento$11,477$4,591$542$118–$808 · 9 plans
Stanford Health CareStanford$11,859$4,744–
Mercy Medical Center ReddingRedding$14,934$7,503$11,683$7,695–$14,157 · 15 plans
Sharp Memorial HospitalSan Diego$10,400$7,800$4,576$1,747–$8,320 · 15 plans
Good Samaritan HospitalSan Jose$13,840$13,840$10,186$5,845–$13,777 · 31 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 4 cost at a hospital in California?

At 9 California hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for emergency room visit, level 4 is $4,591, and most charge between $2,033 and $9,008. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $4,576. 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 4?

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 4?

Of the hospitals whose price files we have read, the lowest published cash price is $1,985 at El Camino Health. 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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