How much does an X ray cost in California?

X ray cost in California

X ray costs in California range between $175 and $857 based on a pricing information analysis of 84 medical providers who perform X rays in California. Patients paying cash pay as little as $28 - $107 for the X ray. Find out how you can negotiate the best rate for your scan. And check the best prices in your area.

X ray costs in California by insurance coverage & health plans

Insurance Imaging center Hospital
Insured patient (25% copay) (Compare plans) $25 - $129 $44 - $214
High-deductible patient $98 - $514 $175 - $857
Medicare/Medicaid patient (20% copay) (Compare plans) $3 - $12 $5 - $18
Cash patient $28 - $77 $28 - $107

X ray price by city in California

Insured X ray cost

At hospitals in California, patients with health insurance can expect to pay a copay between $44 and $214, which is 25% of the total cost of the X ray procedure. To avoid additional charges, patients need to ensure the radiologist is also in-network, otherwise their fees will need to be paid in full. Also, if you haven't met your yearly deductible yet, you will be likely billed the full procedure list price ($175 - $857) and your insurance coverage will kick-in only after meeting the yearly deductible.

If your insurance plan has limited coverage for imaging procedures or high-deductible, you can use our patient asssist program to compare other insurance plans to rightsize your insurance coverage to meet your needs.

Medicare X ray cost

Medical & Medicare are the largest payers for healthcare in California, so they negotiate the best rates. They can pay between $24 and $92 per scan, patients can expect to pay price ranges as little as $5 in copay . Keep in mind there is a high chance that doctors will deny an X ray referral, as Medicare only covers the cost of medical imaging in very selective cases.

High-deductible X ray cost

Almost 40% of all adult patients have high-deductible health plans, which means they need to meet their deductible of up to $13,000 per family before their insurance kicks-in. They can expect to pay the full price for the X ray ($175 - $857). For these patients, the best option is often to pay in cash.

Cash X ray cost

Self-pay patients can get a discount of up to 80% by using a service such as AffordableScan and can get an X ray for as little as $28. Our partner testing facilities are able to use their excess capacity and pass the savings to our patients.

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X ray costs by procedure type & body part in California

  • X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2 or 3 views: $63 - $1,200
  • X-ray of abdomen, single view: $33 - $705
  • X-ray of knee, 1 or 2 views: $40 - $762
  • X-ray of shoulder, minimum of 2 views: $29 - $825
  • X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views: $36 - $870
  • X-ray of foot, minimum of 3 views: $34 - $1,140
  • X-ray of pelvis, 1 or 2 views: $49 - $759
  • X-ray of ankle, minimum of 3 views: $37 - $975
  • X-ray of chest, 2 views, front and side: $28 - $857

About X ray procedures

X ray is an image of internal body organs that radiologist look at to evaluate medical injuries. According to articles published in USA Today, the X ray medical test cost varies widely based on facility & location. There are about 3,000 hospitals with imaging centers, that need to pay for they expensive emergency departments, so they charge the insurance companies extra for their patients' use of imaging services. As of now the imaging procedure prices are about 10x what they are in Europe .

Tips for saving on X rays in California

  • Shop around for the best price (get a quote for facilities near you).
  • Don’t hesitate to ask for & compare prices.
  • Look for facilities that work with a teleradiologist, those provide much better reading costs.
  • Ask about all the fees - do they include the cost of the X ray and the cost of the radiologist reading?
  • Take your doctor referral with you to another facility – your referral might be issued for one of the most expensive hospitals in the area.
  • Use the machine type that is sufficient for your scan – if you need an procedure for a musco-skeletal issue, you don’t need the “Ferrari” quality level for your test that will cost you thousands of dollars, a simple “Toyota” level quality will do just fine.
  • Use a patient concierge service such as AffordableScan to get a quote and schedule and appointment. We'll be happy to assist you.
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