Cost of a Colonoscopy Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California's expansive healthcare network includes over 5,883 active Colonoscopy providers, reflecting the state's commitment to preventive care access across its diverse geographic regions. Patients typically pay between $85 and $647 for a Colonoscopy visit, with a median negotiated rate of $85 based on transparency data from major insurers. With California's robust provider network spanning from urban medical centers to rural community clinics, patients can browse all providers statewide to find the most cost-effective option for their needs.
Average
$272
Median
$85
Lowest
$85
Highest
$647
Providers
5,883
47% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does colonoscopy compare to related procedures in California?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy with Biopsy Colonoscopy with biopsy | 45380 | $80 | $308 | $1,785 | 12,256 |
| Colonoscopy with Polyp Removal Colonoscopy with polyp removal by snare | 45385 | $30 | $453 | $1,785 | 9,290 |
| Upper Endoscopy (EGD) Diagnostic upper GI endoscopy | 43235 | $80 | $85 | $598 | 6,177 |
| Upper Endoscopy with Biopsy Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 43239 | $80 | $196 | $1,352 | 16,316 |
| ECG / EKG 12-lead electrocardiogram with interpretation | 93000 | $16 | $49 | $88 | 22,603 |
| Echocardiogram Transthoracic echocardiogram with Doppler | 93306 | $79 | $101 | $586 | 17,572 |
| OB Ultrasound Obstetric ultrasound, complete | 76805 | $52 | $90 | $287 | 7,619 |
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 45378 — Diagnostic colonoscopy, flexible). 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 45378 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 45378 (Diagnostic colonoscopy, flexible), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 45378 covers: the provider's professional fee for colonoscopy. 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.
Colonoscopy Visit Costs by City in California — 2026
Colonoscopy costs in California vary significantly due to the state's vast geographic diversity, from high-cost metropolitan areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles to more affordable Central Valley and rural regions. ---CITY_SUMMARIES---
| City | Min Cost | Median Cost | Max Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Afb | $90 | $689 | $1,772 |
| Santa Barbara | $85 | $647 | $647 |
| Lompoc | $85 | $647 | $647 |
| Stanford | $85 | $410 | $1,830 |
| Oakland | $85 | $396 | $1,830 |
| South Lake Tahoe | $264 | $391 | $479 |
| Palo Alto | $85 | $355 | $1,556 |
| Fresno | $85 | $340 | $1,395 |
| West Hollywood | $85 | $291 | $647 |
| San Jose | $85 | $282 | $289 |
Costs reflect self-pay estimates based on insurer-negotiated rates. Insured patients may pay significantly less depending on plan type, deductible status, and network tier.
Why Colonoscopy 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, strict regulatory environment, and concentration of high-cost metropolitan markets. The state's massive geographic footprint creates distinct regional cost variations, from premium coastal markets to more affordable Central Valley and rural Northern California regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
California's Colonoscopy providers are heavily concentrated in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, creating access challenges and higher costs for rural residents. Patients in rural Northern California or the Central Valley may need to travel significant distances for specialized gastroenterology care, potentially increasing overall treatment costs. This geographic disparity often results in rural patients paying premium rates due to limited local competition among providers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Cedars-Sinai dominate California's healthcare landscape, with hospital-based outpatient clinics typically charging higher facility fees than independent gastroenterology practices. These major systems often have higher overhead costs due to their comprehensive service offerings and prime real estate locations, which are passed on to patients through higher procedure costs. Independent practices may offer more competitive pricing but might have limited hours or fewer ancillary services.
Insurance Market Competition in California
California's insurance market features robust competition among Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare, along with several regional plans and Covered California marketplace options. This competitive environment generally helps keep negotiated rates reasonable, though Kaiser's integrated model can create different cost structures compared to traditional fee-for-service arrangements. The state's active insurance regulation and consumer protection laws also influence how insurers negotiate rates with Colonoscopy providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
With 5,883 active Colonoscopy providers, California has a relatively robust supply of gastroenterologists compared to many other states, though distribution remains uneven across regions. This substantial provider network generally helps moderate pricing through competition, particularly in metropolitan areas where multiple specialists compete for patients. However, high demand in desirable coastal locations can still drive up costs, while inland areas with fewer specialists may experience longer wait times and premium pricing.
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 — Colonoscopy Costs in California
What is the average cost of a Colonoscopy visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Colonoscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Colonoscopy 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 Colonoscopy visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Colonoscopy in California?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 45378)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $4,430 | $1,595 |
| 2 | North Dakota Range: $165 – $2,255 | $1,558 |
| 3 | Minnesota Range: $90 – $2,255 | $1,217 |
| 4 | South Dakota Range: $85 – $2,255 | $895 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Range: $113 – $1,830 | $815 |
| 6 | Rhode Island Range: $91 – $1,830 | $781 |
| 7 | Connecticut Range: $90 – $1,830 | $748 |
| 8 | Delaware Range: $95 – $1,830 | $747 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Range: $85 – $1,830 | $746 |
| 10 | New York Range: $101 – $1,830 | $743 |
| 11 | West Virginia Range: $85 – $1,395 | $612 |
| 12 | Nebraska Range: $265 – $815 | $594 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Range: $204 – $956 | $571 |
| 14 | Wyoming Range: $158 – $1,057 | $530 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $90 – $1,065 | $511 |
| 16 | Georgia Range: $90 – $982 | $507 |
| 17 | New Jersey Range: $110 – $1,117 | $505 |
| 18 | New Mexico Range: $168 – $954 | $502 |
| 19 | Iowa Range: $85 – $944 | $498 |
| 20 | Maine Range: $220 – $674 | $485 |
| 21 | Illinois Range: $85 – $901 | $443 |
| 22 | Utah Range: $85 – $741 | $441 |
| 23 | District of Columbia Range: $126 – $815 | $437 |
| 24 | Indiana Range: $81 – $835 | $425 |
| 25 | Vermont Range: $106 – $801 | $418 |
| 26 | Missouri Range: $174 – $634 | $417 |
| 27 | Washington Range: $80 – $856 | $411 |
| 28 | Oregon Range: $80 – $836 | $408 |
| 29 | Kentucky Range: $85 – $814 | $408 |
| 30 | Maryland Range: $162 – $712 | $396 |
| 31 | Michigan Range: $92 – $768 | $395 |
| 32 | Colorado Range: $85 – $760 | $385 |
| 33 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $757 | $385 |
| 34 | Mississippi Range: $151 – $719 | $381 |
| 35 | Alabama Range: $147 – $649 | $373 |
| 36 | Virginia Range: $124 – $682 | $368 |
| 37 | Louisiana Range: $116 – $670 | $366 |
| 38 | South Carolina Range: $90 – $695 | $363 |
| 39 | Idaho Range: $80 – $735 | $363 |
| 40 | Nevada Range: $204 – $553 | $351 |
| 41 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $634 | $345 |
| 42 | Texas Range: $85 – $634 | $336 |
| 43 | Kansas Range: $174 – $530 | $331 |
| 44 | Ohio Range: $85 – $565 | $325 |
| 45 | Tennessee Range: $90 – $582 | $320 |
| 46 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $606 | $303 |
| 47 | Arizona Range: $155 – $472 | $300 |
| 48 | California Range: $85 – $647 | $272 |
| 49 | Alaska Range: $80 – $648 | $269 |
| 50 | Montana Range: $80 – $538 | $233 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $604 | $231 |