US Health Care Costs

Office visit, new patient, level 4 in California

CPT 99204 · hospital facility charge

Cash prices range from $148 to $2,279 at the 6 California hospitals whose price files we have read so far.

Estimate what you would pay

$476typical cash price
$634typical commercial insurer rate
$148–$2.3kcash price range, 5 hospitals
Cash price by hospital, lowest first
University of California Davis Medical Center
$148
El Camino Health
$170
Sharp Memorial Hospital
$476
Mercy Medical Center Redding
$495
Good Samaritan Hospital
$2,279

California typical cash price: $476

California hospitals compared

HospitalCityList priceCash priceInsurers (median)
University of California Davis Medical CenterSacramento$369$148$134$125–$134 · 4 plans
El Camino HealthMountain View$680$170–
Sharp Memorial HospitalSan Diego$635$476$410$270–$469 · 19 plans
Mercy Medical Center ReddingRedding$986$495$858$234–$20,783 · 12 plans
Good Samaritan HospitalSan Jose$2,279$2,279$1,139$318–$1,823 · 30 plans
Ronald Reagan Ucla Medical CenterLos Angeles––$69only 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, new patient, level 4 cost at a hospital in California?

At 5 California hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for office visit, new patient, level 4 is $476, and most charge between $157 and $1,565. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $634. 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, new patient, level 4?

At 1 of the 4 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, new patient, level 4?

Of the hospitals whose price files we have read, the lowest published cash price is $148 at University of California Davis Medical Center. 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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