Prices at 4 hospitals in San Diego, CA, from their machine-readable files.
Cash / self-pay (median)
$28,819
Chargemaster (median)
$38,426
Insurer-negotiated (median)
$16,002
Medicare pays
$5,487
$10,217$28,819
Median cash $28,819 · Medicare $5,487 · bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Typical cash range: $10,217 – $28,819. The median cash price is about 5.3× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scripps Mercy Hospital 🍼 | San Diego, CA | $5,566 | $10,206 | ★ 4/5 | 193 min | 15.3% |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital | San Diego, CA | $28,819 | $24,903 | — | — | — |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital 🍼 | San Diego, CA | $28,819 | $21,798 | ★ 4/5 | 197 min | 15.4% |
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. 🍼 = CMS Birthing-Friendly hospital. 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.