Prices at 5 hospitals in Houston, TX, from their machine-readable files.
Cash / self-pay (median)
$1,343
Chargemaster (median)
$3,838
Insurer-negotiated (median)
$3,886
Medicare pays
$252
Typical cash range: $1,343 – $1,343. The median cash price is about 5.3× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tops Surgical Specialty Hospital | Houston, TX | $1,343 | $2,403 | — | — | 14.4% |
CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.