CT Scan Cost in San Diego, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ct scan cost in San Diego, CA?
You could pay $71 or $116 for the same ct scan in San Diego, CA - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 11 reporting hospitals is $109. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in San Diego, CA, from hospital price files
- Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas · Ca, CA $71
- Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego · Ca, CA $71
- KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN DIEGO - ZION · San Diego, CA $116
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 11 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where ct scan costs vary in San Diego, CA
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby imaging centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.
26+ people checked prices near them this month.
The same CT scan costs 3–6× more at a hospital than at an imaging center. Location is the biggest variable - and you can choose.
Your personalized cost report includes:
- ✓ Why facility type drives most of the price variation - and how to use that
- ✓ The separate radiologist bill most patients miss (and how to verify it's in-network)
- ✓ When contrast adds a charge - and when it's negotiable
- ✓ The questions to ask before scheduling that can save $500–$1,500
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
Free for patients - takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll send a sign-in link to your email - click it to get your guide. No account required, no spam.
Cheapest CT Scan Providers in San Diego, CA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $980 | -$000 |
| 2 | Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas | Ca, CA | $71 | -$38 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $982 | -$000 |
| 4 | Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego | Ca, CA | $71 | -$38 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $984 | -$000 |
| 6 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $985 | -$000 |
| 7 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $986 | -$000 |
| 8 | KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN DIEGO - ZION | San Diego, CA | $116 | +$7 |
Your ranked price list is on its way to your email. Open the PDF now.
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Email me this price comparison plus what to ask before booking
Sends a PDF with all 11 facilities ranked cheapest first, plus a short checklist of questions that change what you pay. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Before you book: three questions that change the price
- Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
- Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
- What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost → · When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →
Quick take
- Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista is the lowest-cost option at $71 - $38 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $109, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Independent imaging centers often charge much less than hospital outpatient departments for the same scan and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $96 to $311 | $179 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 11 | $156 to $240 | $178 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 11 | $71 to $116 | $109 |
| Anthem Blue Cross | 7 | $138 to $257 | $177 |
| Aetna | 7 | $127 to $221 | $131 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 6 | $79 to $208 | $80 |
| Cigna | 6 | $116 to $287 | $165 |
Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.
How much does an CT Scan cost with Medicare in San Diego, CA?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for CT Scan is about $96 to $311 (typically near $179). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $36 on a $179 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.
How much does an CT Scan cost with insurance in San Diego, CA?
Across 11 San Diego, CA hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for CT Scan average $156 to $240 per hospital, with a median near $178. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.
Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.
How much does an CT Scan cost without insurance in San Diego, CA?
Cash (self-pay) prices for CT Scan at 11 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $71 to $116, with a median of $109. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.
Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.
How much does an CT Scan cost with Anthem Blue Cross in San Diego, CA?
Anthem Blue Cross negotiated rates for CT Scan at 7 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $138 to $257, with a median near $177. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.
Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.
How much does an CT Scan cost with Aetna in San Diego, CA?
Aetna negotiated rates for CT Scan at 7 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $127 to $221, with a median near $131. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does an CT Scan cost with UnitedHealthcare in San Diego, CA?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for CT Scan at 6 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $79 to $208, with a median near $80. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does an CT Scan cost with Cigna in San Diego, CA?
Cigna negotiated rates for CT Scan at 6 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $116 to $287, with a median near $165. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
California has the most competitive commercial hospital market in the country, with aggressive multi-system competition in every major metro driving meaningful price variation. Kaiser Permanente's integrated payer-provider model covers roughly 40% of the insured population in the state - if you're Kaiser-enrolled, the prices here largely don't apply. California's robust price transparency enforcement under SB 1204 means the data here is more complete than in most states. CT scan pricing is driven almost entirely by site of service - the identical scan costs 3–6× more at a hospital outpatient department than at an independent imaging center. With-contrast and without-contrast scans carry different CPT codes and prices, so confirm which your physician ordered before scheduling. For non-urgent imaging, comparing cash prices across independent imaging centers near you typically yields the largest savings.
Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →
Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $109 versus $71 inpatient, so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Whether the scan happens in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a separate facility fee) or a freestanding imaging center is usually the single biggest driver of price for this procedure.
None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$109 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$22 |
| Out-of-network provider | $240+ |
Frequently asked questions: CT Scan costs in San Diego, CA
How much does a CT Scan cost in San Diego, CA?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $23, with most facilities between $23 and $81 (based on 11 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $66 to $173 across all 11 San Diego, CA hospitals that publish prices. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get a CT Scan in San Diego, CA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our San Diego, CA data is UC San Diego Medical Center in San Diego at about $66. By metro, Ca has the lowest median ($71). Independent imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
Why is a CT Scan so much cheaper at some San Diego, CA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 2.6× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In San Diego, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $109 versus a median negotiated rate of $178 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.
How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a CT Scan in San Diego, CA?
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.
Before you book
- How to read your medical bill
- How to stop medical bill problems before they start
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
Other procedures in San Diego, CA
CT Scan, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
Imaging center vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than independent imaging centers for the same ct scan - same outcome, very different bill. The ER charges the most of any setting and should only be used when the situation is medically urgent. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
With vs. without contrast
Which type your doctor orders for this ct scan changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard ct scan with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
CT Scan is elective and schedulable, so you have time to compare facilities before booking - hospital outpatient prices often run 2-4x higher than alternative settings for the identical clinical outcome.
What to ask before you book
Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for ct scan before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
Related Articles
Interested in understanding healthcare costs and managing your medical expenses?
- Free Cost EstimatorCalculate your exact out-of-pocket cost for any procedure
- Free Bill ScreenerCheck whether your bill and paperwork are ready for a professional review
- Family Bill TrackerTrack costs across every family member and every bill in one place
- CT Scan Cost GuideCompare CT Scan prices across all 50 states
- Deductible vs Out-of-Pocket MaximumLearn how insurance cost-sharing works and what you actually pay
- Cost ExplorerBrowse procedures and compare prices across the country
- MRI Cost GuideCompare MRI pricing and understand imaging costs
- X-Ray Cost GuideCompare X-ray pricing across states
About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
Connect on LinkedIn →Ready to take control of your healthcare costs?
Use the free cost estimator → · Get your bill screened for free → · See the family plan →