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California

Cost of a Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) Visit
in California

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

California's highly consolidated healthcare market drives Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visit costs 18% above the national average. Patients typically pay between $70 and $250 for an established patient visit, with a median of $140 across 1,828 contracted providers. Costs vary significantly by city, with Fresno and Irvine showing the highest rates at $202 median, while Los Angeles averages just $85.

Average

$154

Median

$140

Lowest

$70

Highest

$250

Providers

1,828

National avg: $129California: $154

19% above national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does family medicine visit compare to related procedures in California?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Internal Medicine Visit

Standard office visit with an internist

99214$80$85$2502,792
Psychiatric Evaluation

Initial psychiatric evaluation with medical services

90792$81$267$267274

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 99214Office/outpatient visit, established patient, moderate complexity). 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 99214 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 99214 (Office/outpatient visit, established patient, moderate complexity), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 99214 covers: the provider's professional fee for family medicine visit. 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.

Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) Visit Costs by City in California2026

Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visit costs vary across California cities due to provider concentration in major metropolitan areas and varying overhead costs between urban coastal regions and inland markets.

CityMin CostMedian CostMax Cost
La Mesa$168$287$287
Santee$130$287$287
Beverly Hills$64$242$252
Clovis$69$238$238
Reedley$70$238$238
Santa Barbara$85$234$236
Walnut Creek$84$228$228
Concord$85$228$228
San Ramon$85$228$228
Brentwood$86$228$228

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.

Top Rated Family medicine physicians in California

Why Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) Visit Costs Vary Across California

California's healthcare costs run 18% above the national average, driven by high real estate costs and physician shortages in both rural areas and expensive coastal markets. The state's expanded Medicaid program covers over 14 million residents, but provider participation varies significantly by region.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Los Angeles and San Diego show lower median costs ($85 and $147 respectively) due to higher provider competition, while smaller markets like Fresno and Irvine command $202 median rates. Rural Central Valley areas often have limited Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) options, driving patients to travel to metropolitan areas.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Large health systems like Dignity Health, Sutter Health, and Providence dominate California's market with higher facility fees than independent practices. Academic medical centers affiliated with UC system locations typically charge premium rates due to teaching hospital overhead costs.

Insurance Market Competition in California

Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare control most of California's commercial insurance market, with Kaiser's integrated model often showing different pricing patterns than traditional insurers. Health Net and Blue Shield of California provide additional options primarily in specific regional markets.

Physician Supply and Demand

California faces a primary care physician shortage particularly acute in the Central Valley and inland regions, contributing to higher costs in markets like Fresno and Bakersfield. Coastal areas benefit from medical school proximity but compete with high cost of living that drives up practice overhead expenses.

Cost by Procedure Type

Family Medicine Visit can be billed under different CPT codes depending on what's done during the procedure in California.

CPT 992131,871 providers

Follow-up, low complexity

$90
Range: $70$178
CPT 992141,828 providers

Follow-up, moderate complexity

$140
Range: $70$250
CPT 992151,532 providers

Follow-up, high complexity

$209
Range: $80$351
CPT 992031,725 providers

New patient, low complexity

$151
Range: $80$244
CPT 992041,638 providers

New patient, moderate complexity

$209
Range: $80$370
CPT 992051,430 providers

New patient, high complexity

$88
Range: $80$460

Costs shown are median negotiated rates. Your actual cost depends on your insurance plan and provider.

JP

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) Costs in California

What is the average cost of a Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visit in California without insurance?

Without insurance, Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visits in California typically cost between $70-$250 based on UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates, with a median of $140 for established patients. New patient visits range higher, with moderate complexity appointments averaging $209. Cash-pay patients should ask about self-pay discounts, as many practices offer reduced rates below insurance contracted amounts.

Does California Medicaid cover Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visits?

Yes, California's expanded Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) covers Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visits with no copay for most services. Medi-Cal serves over 14 million Californians and includes preventive care, routine checkups, and treatment visits. You'll need to find a provider who accepts Medi-Cal, as not all family medicine physicians participate in the program.

How do I find an affordable Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) in California?

Compare costs across cities, as our data shows significant variation from Los Angeles at $85 median to Fresno at $202 median for the same service. Check if providers offer cash-pay discounts, verify your insurance network tier, and consider federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) which use sliding fee scales. Independent practices often cost less than large health system providers.

What's the difference between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

New patient visits cost significantly more, ranging from $150 median for low complexity to $209 for moderate complexity appointments in California. Established patient follow-up visits cost $90-$209 depending on complexity, with routine visits averaging $90. The difference reflects additional time needed for medical history review and comprehensive evaluation for new patients.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visit in California?

Yes, Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) visits qualify as eligible medical expenses for both HSA and FSA accounts. This includes copays, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for both preventive and treatment visits. Keep receipts and explanation of benefits statements for reimbursement, and remember that HSA funds roll over annually while most FSA funds must be used within the plan year.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) in California?

Telemedicine visits with Primary Care Doctor (Family Medicine) providers typically cost 10-30% less than in-person visits, though exact pricing varies by provider and insurance plan. California expanded telehealth coverage during COVID-19, and many insurers now cover virtual visits at the same rate as office visits. However, some services like physical exams and procedures still require in-person appointments.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$80
$215

Office visit (CPT 99214)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Nebraska
Range: $91$314
$215
2New Hampshire
Range: $101$282
$198
3Iowa
Range: $80$314
$187
4Maine
Range: $80$255
$180
5Minnesota
Range: $81$313
$162
6Wisconsin
Range: $73$313
$161
7California
Range: $70$250
$154
8Wyoming
Range: $80$251
$152
9Illinois
Range: $77$226
$148
10Massachusetts
Range: $80$271
$144
11Rhode Island
Range: $85$200
$143
12North Dakota
Range: $91$240
$141
13Texas
Range: $70$221
$139
14New Mexico
Range: $80$178
$138
15Vermont
Range: $107$166
$138
16Mississippi
Range: $67$249
$136
17Michigan
Range: $66$249
$134
18South Dakota
Range: $77$239
$132
19Hawaii
Range: $70$239
$131
20New York
Range: $78$200
$131
21Pennsylvania
Range: $73$228
$130
22Louisiana
Range: $69$222
$130
23Colorado
Range: $80$210
$126
24Connecticut
Range: $80$200
$124
25Oregon
Range: $80$204
$124
26Indiana
Range: $80$202
$123
27Ohio
Range: $70$201
$122
28Georgia
Range: $72$188
$122
29South Carolina
Range: $68$216
$121
30Washington
Range: $80$202
$121
31North Carolina
Range: $66$210
$119
32Nevada
Range: $48$182
$118
33Virginia
Range: $60$191
$116
34Arkansas
Range: $70$175
$116
35West Virginia
Range: $80$133
$115
36Florida
Range: $54$200
$115
37Idaho
Range: $75$179
$115
38New Jersey
Range: $53$188
$113
39Missouri
Range: $67$148
$113
40Kansas
Range: $76$158
$113
41Maryland
Range: $49$194
$112
42District of Columbia
Range: $53$199
$112
43Kentucky
Range: $80$170
$110
44Utah
Range: $60$180
$110
45Tennessee
Range: $70$168
$109
46Oklahoma
Range: $70$158
$104
47Arizona
Range: $63$168
$104
48Alabama
Range: $61$160
$100
49Delaware
Range: $58$123
$91
50Alaska
Range: $80$80
$80
51Montana
Range: $80$80
$80
Family Medicine Visit in Other States