Cost of a Skin Biopsy Visit
in California
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
California's integrated health system model, dominated by Kaiser Permanente, creates unique pricing dynamics for dermatological procedures across the state. Skin Biopsy visits typically reflect the state's premium healthcare costs, though patients benefit from California's 12,818 active providers offering competitive options. Exploring provider networks throughout California can help patients identify the most cost-effective care options for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$112
Median
$85
Lowest
$80
Highest
$171
Providers
12,818
10% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does skin biopsy compare to related procedures in California?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Injection Injection into a major joint or bursa | 20610 | $64 | $88 | $185 | 9,480 |
| Abscess Drainage (I&D) Incision and drainage of abscess, simple | 10060 | $15 | $88 | $264 | 14,233 |
| 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 11102 — Tangential biopsy of skin, single lesion). 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 11102 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 11102 (Tangential biopsy of skin, single lesion), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 11102 covers: the provider's professional fee for skin biopsy. 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 Skin Biopsy 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 concentrated urban markets. The Golden State's vast geographic diversity creates stark disparities between Silicon Valley's premium-priced practices and more affordable options in the Central Valley and Inland Empire.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
California's 12,818 Skin Biopsy providers are heavily concentrated in coastal metropolitan areas, creating access challenges for residents of rural counties like Imperial, Inyo, and parts of the Central Valley. Urban areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco offer abundant choice but at premium prices, while rural regions may require travel to larger cities for specialized dermatological procedures. This geographic imbalance drives both cost and wait time variations across the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
California's dominant health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Cedars-Sinai operate extensive networks of hospital-based outpatient clinics that often charge facility fees in addition to physician charges. Independent dermatology practices typically offer lower overall costs but may have less integration with electronic health records and laboratory services. The state's high real estate and labor costs particularly impact overhead expenses for all facility types.
Insurance Market Competition in California
The California insurance market shows significant regional variation, with Kaiser Permanente dominating Northern California while Anthem Blue Cross and UnitedHealthcare compete more heavily in Southern California markets. This uneven competition affects negotiated rates, with some regions seeing more favorable pricing due to insurer rivalry while others face limited options. The state's Covered California exchange has increased competition in individual markets but employer-sponsored plan options remain concentrated among major carriers.
Physician Supply and Demand in California
With 12,818 active providers, California maintains a relatively robust supply of Skin Biopsy specialists, though distribution heavily favors affluent coastal areas over inland and rural regions. High demand from the state's aging population and sun-exposed lifestyle creates pricing pressure, particularly for cosmetic and preventive dermatology services. Competition among providers in saturated markets like Beverly Hills and Palo Alto can lead to premium pricing, while underserved areas may see longer wait times but more moderate costs.
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 — Skin Biopsy Costs in California
What is the average cost of a Skin Biopsy visit in California without insurance?
Does California Medicaid cover Skin Biopsy visits?
How do I find an affordable Skin Biopsy 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 Skin Biopsy visit in California?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Skin Biopsy in California?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 11102)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Range: $62 – $387 | $200 |
| 2 | Rhode Island Range: $35 – $387 | $187 |
| 3 | New Hampshire Range: $103 – $251 | $182 |
| 4 | Connecticut Range: $47 – $387 | $181 |
| 5 | Wisconsin Range: $60 – $387 | $181 |
| 6 | New York Range: $49 – $387 | $179 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania Range: $34 – $387 | $173 |
| 8 | West Virginia Range: $34 – $387 | $171 |
| 9 | Delaware Range: $33 – $387 | $169 |
| 10 | Nebraska Range: $47 – $242 | $167 |
| 11 | Maine Range: $100 – $206 | $164 |
| 12 | Wyoming Range: $53 – $307 | $150 |
| 13 | Vermont Range: $73 – $249 | $149 |
| 14 | North Dakota Range: $42 – $300 | $146 |
| 15 | Minnesota Range: $33 – $310 | $144 |
| 16 | Iowa Range: $54 – $251 | $143 |
| 17 | Utah Range: $54 – $220 | $130 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $34 – $250 | $127 |
| 19 | Oregon Range: $54 – $242 | $126 |
| 20 | South Dakota Range: $38 – $242 | $123 |
| 21 | New Mexico Range: $46 – $221 | $119 |
| 22 | Illinois Range: $37 – $230 | $118 |
| 23 | Washington Range: $52 – $220 | $118 |
| 24 | Georgia Range: $39 – $219 | $117 |
| 25 | Florida Range: $33 – $229 | $115 |
| 26 | Colorado Range: $43 – $221 | $115 |
| 27 | North Carolina Range: $39 – $209 | $114 |
| 28 | California Range: $80 – $171 | $112 |
| 29 | Indiana Range: $35 – $211 | $110 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $38 – $201 | $110 |
| 31 | New Jersey Range: $21 – $230 | $108 |
| 32 | Hawaii Range: $37 – $200 | $107 |
| 33 | Texas Range: $34 – $194 | $105 |
| 34 | Maryland Range: $34 – $203 | $104 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $34 – $186 | $102 |
| 36 | Nevada Range: $72 – $145 | $101 |
| 37 | Virginia Range: $30 – $193 | $101 |
| 38 | Idaho Range: $47 – $175 | $101 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $32 – $187 | $99 |
| 40 | Missouri Range: $36 – $136 | $94 |
| 41 | Ohio Range: $30 – $164 | $94 |
| 42 | Louisiana Range: $31 – $170 | $94 |
| 43 | Tennessee Range: $36 – $160 | $94 |
| 44 | Kentucky Range: $50 – $144 | $91 |
| 45 | Arkansas Range: $39 – $146 | $90 |
| 46 | Kansas Range: $36 – $140 | $90 |
| 47 | Montana Range: $80 – $108 | $89 |
| 48 | Alabama Range: $31 – $152 | $88 |
| 49 | Mississippi Range: $32 – $152 | $88 |
| 50 | Alaska Range: $80 – $95 | $85 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $32 – $132 | $78 |