Prices at 3 hospitals in Bakersfield, CA, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $459 — 23% above the US median ($374), roughly 3.8× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern Medical Center | Bakersfield, CA | $125 | $131 | ★ 1/5 | 293 min | 15.3% |
| Mercy Hospital | Bakersfield, CA | $793 | $525 | ★ 3/5 | 190 min | 15.3% |
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 June 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 $459 — about 3.8× the Medicare rate ($121). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($242).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,897 list price could save about $1,438 (76%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
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