State report
California hospitals: prices, quality and finances report
Updated November 11, 2026
#40of 52 states overall How states are ranked
379hospitals, with 462,315 Medicare stays
$5.15typical list price for every $1 of cost 12th highest of 51 states
41%of rated hospitals hold 4 or 5 CMS stars 22nd highest share of 52 states
2 h 54 mintypical ER visit US typical 2 h 28 min
Compared with the country as a whole, California's list prices are close to the US typical, about as many hospitals earn top quality ratings and ER visits are longer.
More on California:All hospitalsBest hospitalsCost estimatorStates rankedOther states
CaliforniaUnited States
List price per $1 of cost
$5.15US $4.74
Billed, compared with paid
6.3×US 5.0×
Hospitals with 4 or 5 stars
41%US 41%
Patients who would recommend
70%US 71%
Typical ER visit
2 h 54 minUS 2 h 28 min
Charity care, share of costs
1.3%US 1.8%
California typical: $5.15
Most common hospital stays in California
| Stay | Medicare stays | Typical bill | Typical paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sepsis, with major complications | 71,060 | $116,759 | $21,560 |
| Heart failure, with major complications | 26,610 | $80,698 | $14,364 |
| Sepsis | 13,549 | $65,140 | $11,531 |
| Lung infection, with major complications | 12,929 | $101,494 | $17,720 |
| Pneumonia, with major complications | 12,363 | $83,191 | $14,391 |
| Dehydration and electrolyte problems, with major complications | 9,630 | $83,201 | $14,110 |
| Infection needing surgery, with major complications | 8,386 | $297,248 | $54,271 |
| Other kidney and urinary problems, with major complications | 8,247 | $100,000 | $17,653 |
5 of 379 California hospitals have their own cash prices and insurer rates on this site so far; more are added every night.
Sources: CMS Medicare inpatient data, hospital cost reports and Care Compare; hospitals' own price files. "Typical" is the median hospital. Star shares leave out Veterans Affairs and military hospitals. How the numbers work.