Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California operates the largest state-based healthcare system in the nation, with over 39 million residents creating significant demand for diagnostic imaging services. Chest CT Scan procedures across the Golden State show considerable price variation, with negotiated rates ranging from $25 at the lowest to $521 at the highest end, based on transparency data from 10,242 active providers. California's extensive network of imaging centers and hospital systems offers patients numerous options for finding quality Chest CT Scan services throughout the state's diverse metropolitan and rural regions.
Average
$210
Median
$85
Lowest
$25
Highest
$521
Providers
10,242
30% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in California?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $55 | $85 | $654 | 9,774 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $75 | $80 | $505 | 10,126 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $96 | $470 | 6,585 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $70 | $85 | $672 | 15,496 |
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 71260 — CT chest with contrast). 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 71260 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 71260 (CT chest with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 71260 covers: the provider's professional fee for ct chest. 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.
Chest CT Scan Visit Costs by City in California — 2026
Chest CT Scan costs fluctuate significantly across California's vast geography, from the dense urban markets of Los Angeles and San Francisco to smaller Central Valley communities, reflecting variations in facility overhead, provider competition, and local market dynamics. ---CITY_SUMMARIES---
| City | Min Cost | Median Cost | Max Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood | $80 | $791 | $791 |
| Beverly Hills | $74 | $278 | $791 |
| Palm Desert | $33 | $270 | $928 |
| Travis Afb | $54 | $212 | $691 |
| South Lake Tahoe | $97 | $197 | $407 |
| Roseville | $62 | $171 | $223 |
| Chula Vista | $62 | $171 | $300 |
| Pleasant Hill | $62 | $171 | $171 |
| Saratoga | $62 | $171 | $171 |
| Gilroy | $62 | $171 | $171 |
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 Chest CT Scan 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 concentrated urban markets where facility overhead expenses significantly exceed national norms. The Golden State's unique geography creates dramatic cost variations between metropolitan coastal regions and inland rural areas where provider options remain limited.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
California's population concentration along the coastal corridor from San Diego to San Francisco creates intense competition among imaging facilities in major metros, while rural areas in the Central Valley and northern counties often have limited options. Patients in Los Angeles and Bay Area markets can choose from dozens of imaging centers within a 20-mile radius, whereas residents of rural counties may need to travel 50+ miles for specialized imaging services. This geographic disparity directly affects pricing power, with rural facilities able to charge premium rates due to limited competition.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments dominate California's major health systems like Sutter Health, Dignity Health, and Cedars-Sinai, typically charging higher rates due to facility fees and administrative overhead. Independent imaging centers and radiology groups offer more competitive pricing but may have limited geographic coverage outside major metropolitan areas. California's strict licensing requirements and high real estate costs create significant barriers to entry, limiting new facility development and maintaining higher average prices.
Insurance Market Competition in California
California's insurance landscape is dominated by Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente's integrated model, and UnitedHealthcare, with each maintaining different provider networks and negotiated rate structures. Kaiser's closed-loop system keeps imaging costs internal to their organization, while Anthem and UnitedHealthcare compete for provider contracts in the broader market. This concentrated insurer market gives major health plans significant negotiating leverage with imaging facilities, though rate variations remain substantial across different network tiers.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
With over 10,000 active Chest CT Scan providers throughout California, the state maintains adequate imaging capacity in metropolitan areas while facing shortages in rural regions. California's large population and aging demographics create strong demand for diagnostic imaging services, supporting premium pricing in markets with high patient volumes. The state's physician shortage in certain specialties doesn't significantly affect radiology services, as most chest CT interpretation can be performed remotely through teleradiology networks that serve multiple facilities.
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 — Chest CT Scan Costs in California
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan 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 Chest CT Scan visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in California?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 71260)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $118 – $7,881 | $2,723 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $7,881 | $2,711 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $863 | $363 |
| 4 | Georgia Range: $61 – $699 | $319 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $54 – $598 | $287 |
| 6 | Nevada Range: $80 – $453 | $272 |
| 7 | Maine Range: $93 – $439 | $262 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $108 – $415 | $246 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $67 – $348 | $243 |
| 10 | New Mexico Range: $52 – $505 | $242 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $73 – $424 | $237 |
| 12 | Vermont Range: $49 – $516 | $236 |
| 13 | North Carolina Range: $60 – $443 | $233 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $67 – $446 | $232 |
| 15 | Massachusetts Range: $64 – $454 | $230 |
| 16 | Rhode Island Range: $54 – $454 | $226 |
| 17 | Alaska Range: $54 – $449 | $224 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $49 – $454 | $223 |
| 19 | Colorado Range: $55 – $441 | $218 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $54 – $374 | $212 |
| 21 | California Range: $25 – $521 | $210 |
| 22 | Indiana Range: $54 – $411 | $206 |
| 23 | New York Range: $42 – $443 | $205 |
| 24 | Washington Range: $54 – $384 | $203 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $57 – $356 | $195 |
| 26 | Illinois Range: $64 – $346 | $192 |
| 27 | Tennessee Range: $61 – $333 | $188 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania Range: $50 – $389 | $185 |
| 29 | West Virginia Range: $64 – $317 | $184 |
| 30 | Virginia Range: $41 – $371 | $182 |
| 31 | Idaho Range: $54 – $321 | $182 |
| 32 | New Jersey Range: $41 – $371 | $181 |
| 33 | Connecticut Range: $54 – $389 | $179 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $54 – $345 | $178 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $54 – $339 | $178 |
| 36 | Kansas Range: $59 – $324 | $178 |
| 37 | Oregon Range: $70 – $291 | $177 |
| 38 | South Dakota Range: $134 – $222 | $175 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $48 – $332 | $173 |
| 40 | Delaware Range: $61 – $273 | $170 |
| 41 | Louisiana Range: $48 – $288 | $169 |
| 42 | Kentucky Range: $54 – $335 | $169 |
| 43 | Arkansas Range: $61 – $278 | $164 |
| 44 | Montana Range: $54 – $263 | $163 |
| 45 | Maryland Range: $24 – $335 | $161 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $48 – $307 | $160 |
| 47 | Missouri Range: $64 – $265 | $159 |
| 48 | Oklahoma Range: $51 – $298 | $154 |
| 49 | Ohio Range: $41 – $298 | $154 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $54 – $267 | $145 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $297 | $131 |