Are these the prices I'll pay?

These are the rates hospitals publish. Final price depends on your insurance, deductible, and the specific services billed. Always confirm with the facility and your insurer before any procedure.

Why do prices vary so much between hospitals?

Hospitals set cash prices independently, and insurance contracts negotiate different rates per payer. Two facilities a few miles apart can charge 5-10x different prices for the same procedure.

Where does this data come from?

Federal law (45 CFR § 180) requires hospitals to publish their pricing in a machine-readable file. We aggregate these files and republish in a consumer-friendly format.

Home › Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professi… › California

Emergency Department Visit for Problem That May Not Require Health Care Professi… Cost in California

What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 198 California hospitals. CPT 99281. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.

📊 Median $419 📉 Low $41.30 📈 High $3,526 🏥 198 hospitals 🏛️ 142 with insurance contracts 🇺🇸 Medicare $11.17

Hospital comparison — California

Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 60 of 198 hospitals.

Billed more than $419 for this? That gap is evidence. Build my dispute letter

Hospital	Cash	BCBS	Health Net	Aetna	Kaiser	UHC	Cigna	MultiPlan	Humana
MARK TWAIN MEDICAL CENTER SAN ANDREAS	$41.30	$16.04	$16.04	$16.04	$16.04	$16.04	$55.49	$60.76	$16.04
SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER SAN JOSE	$44.10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O'CONNOR HOSPITAL SAN JOSE	$44.10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
ST. LOUISE REGIONAL HOSPITAL GILROY	$44.10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER SANTA CLARA VALLEY HEALTHCARE SAN JOSE	$44.10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
STANFORD HEALTH CARE STANFORD	$52.50	$62.08	$26.55	$69.19	$26.72	$77.91	$37.48	$26.72	—
KERN MEDICAL CENTER BAKERSFIELD	$56.04	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SAN GORGONIO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BANNING	$59.80	$15.30	$70.00	$53.40	$108	$75.00	$40.90	—	—
EMANUEL MEDICAL CENTER TURLOCK	$60.00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
COLORADO RIVER MEDICAL CENTER NEEDLES	$68.95	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
JEROLD PHELPS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL GARBERVILLE	$71.86	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
PALOMAR MEDICAL CENTER ESCONDIDO ESCONDIDO	$72.68	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
PALOMAR MEDICAL CENTER POWAY POWAY	$72.68	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER MATRINEZ	$76.00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
EASTERN PLUMAS HOSPITAL-LOYALTON CAMPUS ST AVENUE POROLA	$80.00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
ST. BERNARDINE MEDICAL CENTER SAN BERNARDINO	$83.25	$112	$32.94	$140	$75.00	$112	$155	$200	$112
UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO	$94.20	$154	—	—	—	$148	—	—	—
UCSF LANGLEY PORTER PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - MOUNT ZION 7TH FLOOR	$94.20	$154	—	—	—	$148	—	—	—
MONTCLAIR HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER MONTCLAIR	$107	$21.77	$23.29	—	—	—	—	—	—
LA PALMA INTERCOMMUNITY HOSPITAL LA PALMA	$107	$21.77	$23.29	$138	—	—	—	—	—
SAN DIMAS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SAN DIMAS	$107	$21.77	$23.29	$138	—	$108	—	—	—
PARADISE VALLEY HOSPITAL NATIONAL CITY	$107	$108	$23.29	$21.77	—	$21.77	—	—	—
GARDEN GROVE HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER GARDEN GROVE	$107	$108	$23.29	$138	—	—	—	—	—
CHINO VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER CHINO	$107	$21.77	$23.29	$138	—	—	—	—	—
SHASTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER REDDING	$107	$108	$108	$138	—	—	—	—	—
CENTINELA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER INGLEWOOD	$107	$21.77	$21.77	$128	—	—	—	$128	—
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER LYNWOOD	$107	$22.86	$21.77	$162	$21.77	$108	—	$138	—
HUNTINGTON BEACH HOSPITAL HUNTINGTON BEACH	$107	$108	$23.29	—	—	—	—	—	—
WEST ANAHEIM MEDICAL CENTER ANAHEIM	$107	$108	$23.29	$138	—	—	—	—	—
DESERT VALLEY HOSPITAL VICTORVILLE	$107	$21.77	$23.29	$108	—	$108	—	—	—
ENCINO HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER ENCINO	$107	$21.77	$21.77	$138	—	—	—	$138	—
SHERMAN OAKS HOSPITAL SHERMAN OAKS	$107	$21.77	$21.77	$77.00	—	—	—	$77.00	—
BEAR VALLEY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL BIG BEAR LAKE	$115	$111	$115	—	—	$139	—	—	—
MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL SACRAMENTO	$121	$116	$50.51	$116	$116	$21.77	$367	$445	$116
WATSONVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WATSONVILLE	$130	—	—	$5,045	—	—	—	—	—
MAD RIVER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ARCATA	$137	$19.68	$93.70	$98.42	—	—	$26.25	—	—
PROVIDENCE ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL EUREKA EUREKA	$138	—	—	$108	—	—	—	—	—
FRESNO SURGICAL HOSPITAL FRESNO	$147	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	$113
OROVILLE HOSPITAL OROVILLE	$149	$95.00	$238	$85.00	—	$85.00	$238	$238	—
MERCY HOSPITAL DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD	$151	$112	$52.47	$112	$21.77	$112	$335	$326	$112
WOODLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WOODLAND	$152	$116	$54.86	$116	$116	$21.77	$234	$512	—
MERCY SAN JUAN HOSPITAL CARMICHAEL	$152	$116	$49.85	$116	$116	$21.77	$367	$461	$116
PROVIDENCE QUEEN OF THE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER NAPA	$159	—	—	$120	—	—	—	—	—
METHODIST HOSPITAL OF SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO	$160	$116	$50.07	$116	$116	$21.77	$367	$461	$116
BAKERSFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BAKERSFIELD	$175	$112	$52.47	$112	$21.77	$112	$390	$376	$112
NORTHRIDGE HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER NORTHRIDGE	$177	$109	$29.19	$112	$21.77	$112	$311	$507	$112
PROVIDENCE ST. JOHN'S HEALTH CENTER SANTA MONICA	$183	$114	$201	$108	—	—	—	—	$111
DIGNITY HEALTH GLENDALE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CENTER GLENDALE	$204	$351	$21.77	$282	$32.66	$112	$389	$502	$112
SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL CHULA VISTA CHULA VISTA	$210	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ENCINITAS ENCINITAS	$210	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL SAN DIEGO	$210	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SCRIPPS GREEN HOSPITAL LA JOLLA	$210	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LA JOLLA LA JOLLA	$210	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
MERCY HOSPITAL OF FOLSOM FOLSOM	$216	$116	$51.38	$116	$116	$21.77	$367	$456	$116
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE MEDICAL CENTER ORANGE	$227	$114	$111	$108	$125	—	—	—	—
UCI HEALTH - FOUNTAIN VALLEY FOUNTAIN VALLEY	$227	$114	$111	$108	$125	—	—	—	—
UCI HEALTH - PLACENTIA LINDA PLACENTIA	$227	$114	$111	$108	$125	—	—	—	—
UCI HEALTH - LOS ALAMITOS LOS ALAMITOS	$227	$114	$111	$108	$125	—	—	—	—
PROVIDENCE CEDARS-SINAI TARZANA MEDICAL CENTER TARZANA	$234	$114	$201	$108	—	—	—	—	$111
USC ARCADIA HOSPITAL W HUNTINGTON DRIVE ARCADIA	$240	$69.00	$53.13	$100	$100	$100	$60.20	$63.00	$100

What these prices are. Each figure is the facility’s own published self-pay (cash) price for CPT 99281, filed under the federal price transparency rule (45 CFR Part 180). Hospital facility charges may not include separate physician, anesthesia, or pathology fees. National median for this code: $183 across all reporting facilities. Dataset: Q4 2026. Always confirm the final price with the facility before booking.

Billed more than $419 for this?

That is the median of what the 198 California hospitals above publish for Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professi… — their own figures, filed under federal law. A bill well above them is evidence you can put in writing.

Build my dispute letter — free

No account, no signup. Your bill never leaves your browser.

Medicare reimbursement benchmark

For CPT 99281 in California, Medicare reimburses about $11.17 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in California range from $41.30 to $3,526 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 37.5x what Medicare pays. If a self-pay quote you receive is more than 2-3x the Medicare rate, ask the hospital for the cash-discount price in writing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professi… cost in California?: Cash prices for emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professi… (CPT 99281) in California range from $41.30 to $3,526, with a median of $419. Prices vary widely by hospital.
Where can I find the cheapest emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professi… in California?: The cheapest California hospital published cash price for this procedure is $41.30. Use the table above sorted by cash price to find the lowest-priced facility near you.
Are these the prices I'll pay?: These are the rates hospitals publish. Final price depends on your insurance, deductible, and the specific services billed. Always confirm with the facility and your insurer before any procedure.
Why do prices vary so much between hospitals?: Hospitals set cash prices independently, and insurance contracts negotiate different rates per payer. Two facilities a few miles apart can charge 5-10x different prices for the same procedure.
Where does this data come from?: Federal law (45 CFR § 180) requires hospitals to publish their pricing in a machine-readable file. We aggregate these files and republish in a consumer-friendly format.

Emergency department visit for problem that may not require health care professi… in nearby states

Other procedures in California

Methodology. Cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates published by each California facility under federal price transparency rules (45 CFR § 180). CPT code 99281 (Doctor Visits). Data refreshed regularly; verify with the facility before any procedure.