US Health Care Costs

Office visit, established patient, level 3 in California

CPT 99213 · hospital facility charge

Cash prices range from $73 to $1,643 at the 7 California hospitals whose price files we have read so far.

Estimate what you would pay

$194typical cash price
$240typical commercial insurer rate
$73–$1.6kcash price range, 6 hospitals
Cash price by hospital, lowest first
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
$73
El Camino Health
$75
University of California Davis Medical Center
$112
Mercy Medical Center Redding
$276
Sharp Memorial Hospital
$311
Good Samaritan Hospital
$1,643

California typical cash price: $194

California hospitals compared

HospitalCityList priceCash priceInsurers (median)
Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasEncinitas$294$73$73$44–$176 · 79 plans
El Camino HealthMountain View$300$75–
University of California Davis Medical CenterSacramento$281$112$67$62–$67 · 4 plans
Mercy Medical Center ReddingRedding$550$276$451$174–$550 · 9 plans
Sharp Memorial HospitalSan Diego$415$311$240$74–$287 · 24 plans
Good Samaritan HospitalSan Jose$1,643$1,643$822$226–$1,315 · 30 plans
Ronald Reagan Ucla Medical CenterLos Angeles––$24only 1 plan
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 office visit cost at a hospital in California?

At 6 California hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for office visit is $194, and most charge between $74 and $977. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $240. These are hospital prices; independent clinics, imaging centers and labs often charge less.

Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for office visit?

At 1 of the 5 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 office visit?

Of the hospitals whose price files we have read, the lowest published cash price is $73 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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