Ultrasound Cost in San Jose, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ultrasound cost in San Jose, CA?
Where you have an ultrasound done in San Jose, CA swings the bill from $118 to $158 for identical care. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $138. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.
Insurers negotiate this down to a median of $20, while self-pay patients are quoted $138 — about 6.9× higher, so asking for the cash or insurer-negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on your bill. Across 4 San Jose, CA hospitals that publish prices, an ultrasound runs from as little as $68 (HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL) to $200 (El Camino Hospital in Mountain View) — a 2.9× spread for the same procedure. A typical San Jose, CA facility lands around $138 — most sit in the $109–$158 band.
The same ultrasound can be one bill or two — and the radiologist can be out-of-network even when the facility isn't.
The free toolkit shows you:
- ✓ Why a facility splits into a technical bill and a separate radiologist bill (and an office bills one global fee)
- ✓ How the radiologist who reads your images can be out-of-network even at an in-network facility
- ✓ Why a hospital outpatient department costs far more than an independent imaging center
- ✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price — and the questions to ask first
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
Free for patients — takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll email it to you immediately. No account required, no spam.
Forecast your out-of-pocket cost
- Lower-cost hospitals (bottom 25%): under $109
- Median hospital: $138
- Higher-cost hospitals (top 30%): $158+
- Patient A (higher-rate plan or out-of-network): ~$158
- Patient B (lower-rate in-network plan): ~$118
Where ultrasound costs vary in San Jose, CA
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.
Estimate YOUR exact out-of-pocket cost →
Cheapest Ultrasound Providers in San Jose, CA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Camino Hospital | Mountain View, CA | $123 | -$15 |
| 2 | Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | $153 | +$15 |
| 3 | SJBH, LLC | San Jose, CA | $200 | +$62 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
The facility you choose matters more than almost anything else — the same procedure, same quality, same state can cost 5× more at one hospital versus the one down the road.
→ Compare all procedure costs → Ultrasound costs nationwide
Check YOUR hospital's pricing → Estimate YOUR exact cost →
What you'll actually pay — example scenarios
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met (pay in full) | ~$138 |
| Deductible met — 20% coinsurance | ~$28 |
| Out-of-network provider | $304+ |
Based on the state median facility price of $138. Your actual cost depends on your plan deductible, coinsurance rate, and network tier. Get YOUR personalized estimate →
What this means for you
If you haven't met your deductible, you are effectively a cash-pay patient.
That means:
- You should verify your hospital is in-network before an elective visit when possible
- The cheapest facility can save you $70+ vs. the median.
This is the single biggest lever most patients have to reduce their cost.
Lower-cost options in San Jose, CA start around $109 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $109 and $165. A smaller group reports prices above that — often academic medical centers or high-cost markets.
If you're comparing specific hospitals, the lowest self-pay rates reported in this dataset include: El Camino Hospital in Mountain View (cash price from $123); Stanford Health Care in Stanford (cash price from $153); SJBH, LLC in San Jose (cash price from $200). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
- Best value hospitals (lowest prices): HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: $68; El Camino Hospital: $123; Stanford Health Care: $153
- Most expensive (outpatient): SJBH, LLC: ~$200; Stanford Health Care: ~$153
→ Choosing the right facility can save $70+ vs. the state median.
San Jose, CA Ultrasound prices by facility
All prices below come from hospital chargemasters — the official price lists each hospital must publish under federal law. Gross charge is the undiscounted list price; cash price is the self-pay rate; negotiated range covers the spread across insurance contracts.
- Cash price — the self-pay rate you can actually negotiate and pay
- Negotiated rate — if reported by the hospital across insurance contracts
- Gross charge — fallback only; this is the inflated list price few people pay
This reflects the real prices patients encounter — not inflated chargemaster rates.
| # | Facility | City | Your Price | vs Median | Gross Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CA | $68 | -$70 | $68–$2,658 |
| #2 | El Camino Hospital | Mountain View, CA | $123 | -$15 | $118–$2,885 |
| #3 | Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | $153 | +$15 | $96–$407 |
| #4 | SJBH, LLC | San Jose, CA | $200 | +$62 | $200 |
Source: CMS hospital price transparency machine-readable files. vs Median = savings or premium relative to the state median price. Gross Charge = undiscounted list price for reference.
Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go →
Compare other procedures in San Jose, CA:
Where you can save the most on ultrasound in San Jose, CA
These facilities have the lowest declared prices relative to the state median — they represent the best opportunities to reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.
| Facility | City | Your Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CA | $68 | -$70 |
| El Camino Hospital | Mountain View, CA | $123 | -$15 |
| Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | $153 | +$15 |
| SJBH, LLC | San Jose, CA | $200 | +$62 |
How to choose a lower-cost facility
- Choose independent outpatient centers when possible — freestanding ASCs (ambulatory surgical centers) consistently charge less than hospital outpatient departments for identical procedures.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met — self-pay rates are often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied, especially at facilities that have a high cash-price discount.
- Avoid hospital outpatient departments for routine cases — hospital-owned locations add a facility fee that freestanding centers don't charge, often adding $500–$1,500 to the same procedure.
Most expensive ultrasound providers in San Jose, CA
These facilities report the highest prices for this procedure. Academic medical centers and specialty hospitals often top this list — their gross charges rarely reflect what anyone actually pays, but understanding the spread helps you negotiate.
| Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJBH, LLC | San Jose, CA | $200 | +$62 |
| Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | $153 | +$15 |
| El Camino Hospital | Mountain View, CA | $123 | -$15 |
| HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CA | $68 | -$70 |
Why prices vary this much
Setting drives much of the gap in San Jose, CA: the median outpatient price is $138 versus $162 inpatient — about 1.2× more, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the San Jose, CA facilities reporting prices, 1 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $109) while 1 sit in a high-cost tier ($165 and up) — a lower-priced option almost always exists within the same state.
The spread comes from how each hospital sets its chargemaster (the undiscounted list price), what cash discounts it applies, and what rates it negotiates with each insurer. Facility classification matters too — a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. Understanding these mechanics is the first step to paying less.
Learn more:
→ Allowed amount vs negotiated rate — what your EOB is really saying
→ How to read your medical bill
→ Why hospital prices are so hard to find — and what to do about it
How insurance changes what you actually pay
Hospital list prices are only part of the picture. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility is in-network, and whether your plan classifies the visit as outpatient or inpatient. A lower gross charge doesn't guarantee a lower bill if the facility is out-of-network or adds facility fees your plan doesn't cover.
Understand your cost before you go:
→ Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
→ EOB vs medical bill — complete guide
→ How to stop medical bill problems before they start (in-network vs out-of-network)
Compare ultrasound costs in nearby states
Frequently asked questions: ultrasound costs in San Jose, CA
How much does an ultrasound cost in San Jose, CA?
Across 4 San Jose, CA hospitals that publish prices, an ultrasound ranges from $68 to $200, with a median of $138. Most facilities fall between $109 and $158. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get an ultrasound in San Jose, CA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our San Jose, CA data is HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL at about $68. Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data — ask your doctor whether one is an option.
Why is an ultrasound so much cheaper at some San Jose, CA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 2.9× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In San Jose, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $138 versus a median negotiated rate of $20 — about 6.9× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 an ultrasound in San Jose, 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.
Explore all ultrasound cost data
→ See ultrasound costs across all states
Where You Get an Ultrasound Matters
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2–4× more than ASCs or independent centers for the same procedure — same outcome, very different bill.
Hospital Outpatient Department
Hospital Outpatient Department typically carries a higher price for an ultrasound. Facility fee billed separately from professional fee. Provider-based billing adds facility overhead. You can shop here — call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote.
Independent Imaging Center
Independent Imaging Center typically carries the lowest typical price for an ultrasound. Freestanding radiology centers. Technical component billed by center; professional (radiologist read) billed separately. You can shop here — call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote.
Physician Office
Physician Office typically carries the lowest typical price for an ultrasound. Professional fee only. No separate facility fee unless provider-based designation.
Emergency Room Ultrasound
An Ultrasound performed in the emergency department can run 2–5× the cost of the identical scan at an outpatient or independent facility, because a hospital facility fee stacks on top. Use the ER only when the situation is medically urgent — it is not a setting where you can shop on price.
Ultrasound Cost by Type
Which type your doctor orders changes the billing code — and what you pay. Here's how the common types differ.
Abdominal Ultrasound
A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe. CPT 76700 complete / 76705 limited.
Pelvic Ultrasound
A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
Pregnancy (OB) Ultrasound
A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe. Often performed in-office and billed globally.
Retroperitoneal Ultrasound
A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe. CPT 76770 complete / 76775 limited.
This Procedure Is Shoppable — Choosing the Right Facility Can Save Thousands
Ultrasound is elective and schedulable. You have time to compare facilities — and hospital outpatient prices often run 2–4× higher than Hospital OP, Imaging Center, Office for identical clinical outcomes.
How to shop: Ask your doctor for the CPT code, then call 2–3 facilities and request an out-of-pocket cost estimate. Confirm your insurance is accepted. If uninsured, ask for the cash-pay rate — it's usually 20–50% below the list price.
Who performs this: Ultrasound is typically performed by a Radiology. The specialist's professional fee is billed separately from the facility charge — you will likely receive separate bills from each.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. If you've received a bill for this procedure:
→ Analyze your medical bill for errors
→ How to negotiate your medical bills
→ Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account)
The same ultrasound can be one bill or two — and the radiologist can be out-of-network even when the facility isn't.
The free toolkit shows you:
- ✓ Why a facility splits into a technical bill and a separate radiologist bill (and an office bills one global fee)
- ✓ How the radiologist who reads your images can be out-of-network even at an in-network facility
- ✓ Why a hospital outpatient department costs far more than an independent imaging center
- ✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price — and the questions to ask first
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
Free for patients — takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll email it to you immediately. No account required, no spam.
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About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
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