Cost of a Abscess Drainage Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California's extensive network of over 14,000 Abscess Drainage providers reflects the state's position as the nation's most populous healthcare market, where patients typically pay between $15 and $264 for drainage procedures, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $88. The Golden State's robust provider network spans from major academic medical centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco to community clinics in the Central Valley, offering patients multiple options for accessing care. Patients can browse all available Abscess Drainage providers across California to find the most cost-effective option for their specific insurance coverage and location.
Average
$122
Median
$88
Lowest
$15
Highest
$264
Providers
14,233
32% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does abscess drainage (i&d) compare to related procedures in California?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Biopsy Tangential biopsy of skin | 11102 | $80 | $85 | $171 | 12,818 |
| Joint Injection Injection into a major joint or bursa | 20610 | $64 | $88 | $185 | 9,480 |
| Blood Draw (Venipuncture) Routine venipuncture for blood sample | 36415 | $3 | $75 | $90 | 18,779 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 10060 — Incision and drainage of abscess, simple). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 10060 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 10060 (Incision and drainage of abscess, simple), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 10060 covers: the provider's professional fee for abscess drainage (i&d). It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Abscess Drainage Visit Costs Vary Across California
California's healthcare costs run approximately 18% above the national average, driven by the state's high cost of living, stringent regulatory environment, and concentration of academic medical centers. The state's geography creates stark disparities between densely populated coastal areas with abundant specialists and rural inland regions where access can be limited.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles region contain the majority of California's Abscess Drainage specialists, creating intense competition that can moderate prices in these metro areas. Rural counties in the Central Valley and Northern California often have limited specialist availability, requiring patients to travel longer distances but potentially finding lower base costs. Telemedicine consultations have become increasingly popular for follow-up care in remote areas.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Cedars-Sinai dominate California's healthcare landscape, operating with significant overhead costs that are reflected in procedure pricing. Independent practices and urgent care centers often offer more competitive pricing for routine drainage procedures, particularly in suburban markets. Academic medical centers in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego typically charge premium rates due to their research and teaching missions.
Insurance Market Competition in California
The presence of major insurers Anthem, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare creates robust competition for negotiated rates with providers across the state. Kaiser's integrated model, where the insurer also operates the healthcare facilities, often results in lower out-of-pocket costs for members. Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, has increased competition in individual markets, helping to moderate premium growth.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
With over 14,000 providers capable of performing abscess drainage procedures, California has one of the most robust specialist networks in the nation relative to its population. This abundant supply helps keep wait times reasonable and provides patients with multiple options for cost comparison. However, demand remains high due to the state's large population and comprehensive insurance coverage, which can sustain higher pricing in premium markets like Silicon Valley and West Los Angeles.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Abscess Drainage Costs in California
What is the average cost of a Abscess Drainage visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Abscess Drainage visits?
How do I find an affordable Abscess Drainage near me in California?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Abscess Drainage visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Abscess Drainage in California?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 10060)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $779 | $317 |
| 2 | North Dakota Range: $80 – $611 | $277 |
| 3 | Iowa Range: $85 – $502 | $267 |
| 4 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $540 | $256 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Range: $80 – $464 | $237 |
| 6 | Rhode Island Range: $80 – $464 | $237 |
| 7 | Illinois Range: $80 – $459 | $230 |
| 8 | Connecticut Range: $80 – $464 | $230 |
| 9 | Nebraska Range: $119 – $308 | $228 |
| 10 | New York Range: $81 – $464 | $227 |
| 11 | Delaware Range: $76 – $464 | $219 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania Range: $73 – $464 | $219 |
| 13 | Michigan Range: $80 – $464 | $216 |
| 14 | West Virginia Range: $80 – $456 | $216 |
| 15 | New Hampshire Range: $112 – $303 | $214 |
| 16 | Indiana Range: $80 – $456 | $210 |
| 17 | Georgia Range: $83 – $397 | $209 |
| 18 | Wyoming Range: $80 – $372 | $206 |
| 19 | Maine Range: $126 – $254 | $200 |
| 20 | Oregon Range: $80 – $387 | $195 |
| 21 | District of Columbia Range: $76 – $346 | $194 |
| 22 | Washington Range: $80 – $324 | $182 |
| 23 | South Dakota Range: $83 – $309 | $178 |
| 24 | Vermont Range: $95 – $290 | $178 |
| 25 | New Mexico Range: $85 – $274 | $172 |
| 26 | Alaska Range: $80 – $348 | $169 |
| 27 | Colorado Range: $62 – $309 | $168 |
| 28 | North Carolina Range: $77 – $297 | $168 |
| 29 | Utah Range: $40 – $278 | $168 |
| 30 | Kentucky Range: $80 – $308 | $167 |
| 31 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $308 | $166 |
| 32 | Montana Range: $80 – $308 | $156 |
| 33 | Idaho Range: $80 – $289 | $155 |
| 34 | New Jersey Range: $44 – $306 | $151 |
| 35 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $224 | $149 |
| 36 | Maryland Range: $71 – $254 | $145 |
| 37 | Texas Range: $80 – $233 | $142 |
| 38 | Virginia Range: $67 – $244 | $140 |
| 39 | South Carolina Range: $80 – $232 | $140 |
| 40 | Oklahoma Range: $79 – $227 | $137 |
| 41 | Tennessee Range: $83 – $204 | $135 |
| 42 | Louisiana Range: $76 – $211 | $132 |
| 43 | Missouri Range: $81 – $178 | $131 |
| 44 | Kansas Range: $88 – $177 | $129 |
| 45 | Alabama Range: $76 – $203 | $127 |
| 46 | Ohio Range: $63 – $206 | $124 |
| 47 | Arizona Range: $80 – $192 | $124 |
| 48 | Mississippi Range: $79 – $187 | $124 |
| 49 | California Range: $15 – $264 | $122 |
| 50 | Nevada Range: $30 – $189 | $102 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $187 | $92 |