X-Ray Cost in Chico, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a x-ray cost in Chico, CA?
Where you have an x-ray done in Chico, CA swings the bill from $92 to $190 for identical care. The median cash price across 2 reporting hospitals is $141. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.
The same X-ray that costs $19 at American Advanced - Orchard Hospital reaches $263 at Enloe Medical Center — a 13.8× gap across the 2 Chico, CA hospitals reporting prices. The median Chico, CA price is $141. Most facilities fall between $80 and $190. Self-pay patients are quoted more than insurers actually pay: the median cash price is $141 versus a median negotiated rate of $48 — about 2.9× higher, so asking for the cash or insurer-negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on your bill.
Forecast your out-of-pocket cost
- Lower-cost hospitals (bottom 25%): under $80
- Median hospital: $141
- Higher-cost hospitals (top 30%): $190+
That's a 2× spread for the same procedure — driven entirely by which facility you choose, not by clinical complexity.
- Patient A (higher-rate plan or out-of-network): ~$190
- Patient B (lower-rate in-network plan): ~$92
Cheapest X-Ray Providers in Chico, CA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enloe Medical Center | CA | $263 | +$122 |
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 → X-Ray 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) | ~$141 |
| Deductible met — 20% coinsurance | ~$28 |
| Out-of-network provider | $310+ |
Based on the state median facility price of $141. 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 $122+ vs. the median.
This is the single biggest lever most patients have to reduce their cost.
Lower-cost options in Chico, CA start around $80 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $80 and $202. A smaller group reports prices above that — often academic medical centers or high-cost markets.
- Best value hospitals (lowest prices): American Advanced - Orchard Hospital: $19; Enloe Medical Center: $263
- Most expensive (outpatient): Enloe Medical Center: ~$263; American Advanced - Orchard Hospital: ~$19
→ Choosing the right facility can save $122+ vs. the state median.
Chico, CA X-Ray 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 | American Advanced - Orchard Hospital | CA | $19 | -$122 | $32–$1,155 |
| #2 | Enloe Medical Center | CA | $263 | +$122 | $586–$2,700 |
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 Chico, CA:
Where you can save the most on x-ray in Chico, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Advanced - Orchard Hospital | CA | $19 | -$122 |
| Enloe Medical Center | CA | $263 | +$122 |
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 x-ray providers in Chico, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enloe Medical Center | CA | $263 | +$122 |
| American Advanced - Orchard Hospital | CA | $19 | -$122 |
Why prices vary this much
Of the Chico, CA facilities reporting prices, 1 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $80) while 1 sit in a high-cost tier ($202 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 x-ray costs in nearby states
Frequently asked questions: X-ray costs in Chico, CA
How much does an X-ray cost in Chico, CA?
Across 2 Chico, CA hospitals that publish prices, an X-ray ranges from $19 to $263, with a median of $141. Most facilities fall between $80 and $190. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get an X-ray in Chico, CA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Chico, CA data is American Advanced - Orchard Hospital at about $19. 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 X-ray so much cheaper at some Chico, CA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 13.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Chico, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $141 versus a median negotiated rate of $48 — about 2.9× 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 X-ray in Chico, 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 x-ray cost data
→ See x-ray costs across all states
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)
Other Procedure Costs in Chico, CA
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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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