Prices at 158 hospitals in California, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $798 — 108% above the US median ($383), roughly 14.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla | La Jolla, CA | $165 | $395 | ★ 5/5 | 186 min | — |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital-Encinitas | Encinitas, CA | $165 | $395 | ★ 4/5 | 200 min | — |
| California Hospital Medical Center La | Los Angeles, CA | $188 | $293 | ★ 2/5 | 254 min | — |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital | San Diego, CA | $192 | $395 | ★ 4/5 | 194 min | — |
| Scripps Green Hospital | La Jolla, CA | $192 | $395 | ★ 5/5 | — | — |
| Mercy Medical Center Redding | Redding, CA | $192 | — | ★ 2/5 | 194 min | — |
| Eisenhower Medical Center | Rancho Mirage, CA | $195 | $395 | ★ 4/5 | 259 min | — |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley | Sun Valley, CA | $222 | $132 | — | 227 min | — |
| Palmdale Regional Medical Center | Palmdale, CA | $267 | $204 | ★ 3/5 | 142 min | — |
| Banner Lassen Medical Center | Susanville, CA | $291 | $356 | ★ 3/5 | 116 min | — |
| Community Memorial Hospital-Ojai | Ojai, CA | $296 | $504 | — | 114 min | — |
| St Rose Hospital | Hayward, CA | $313 | $731 | ★ 1/5 | 160 min | — |
| Healdsburg Hospital | Healdsburg, CA | $350 | $731 | — | 94 min | — |
| Paradise Valley Hospital | National City, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 3/5 | 188 min | — |
| Saint Francis Medical Center | Lynwood, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 3/5 | 238 min | — |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center | Encino, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 3/5 | 134 min | — |
| Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center | Garden Grove, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 2/5 | 134 min | — |
| West Anaheim Medical Center | Anaheim, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 2/5 | 190 min | — |
| Huntington Beach Hospital | Huntington Beach, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 1/5 | 158 min | — |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital | La Palma, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 3/5 | 204 min | — |
| Chino Valley Medical Center | Chino, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 4/5 | 174 min | — |
| San Dimas Community Hospital | San Dimas, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 2/5 | 147 min | — |
| Desert Valley Hospital | Victorville, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 3/5 | 167 min | — |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital | Sherman Oaks, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 2/5 | 140 min | — |
| Montclair Hospital Medical Center | Montclair, CA | $392 | $393 | ★ 3/5 | 153 min | — |
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. Data last updated October 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $798 — about 14.2× the Medicare rate ($56). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($112).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,400 list price could save about $602 (43%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
By city
Joint aspiration or injection (small joint) cost in other states
All Joint aspiration or injection (small joint) prices (national) → · All hospitals in California →