Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity in California
Below is what hospitals in California charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 66 hospitals in California run from $21 to $5,980. The typical hospital charges $1,657. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $1,657
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
72 hospitals. Sort by: Cash price ▲ · Negotiated median · Gross charge · Negotiated low
What these numbers mean.
Cash price is what the hospital lists for patients paying out of pocket.
Negotiated median is the middle of what insurance companies actually agreed to pay.
Gross charge is the sticker price — almost nobody pays it.
What you will actually pay is usually different from both numbers:
with insurance, your deductible, copay, or coinsurance decides what you owe —
the negotiated rate is what the insurer pays, not your bill.
A single line item may not be the whole cost: physician, anesthesia, pathology,
and facility fees can be billed separately.
Prices vary by hospital and change over time; always confirm with the hospital before you go.
| Hospital | Cash price | Where it sits | Insurance pays (typical) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventist Health Lodi Memorial CA · Price file August 2, 2026 | $21Insurance typically pays $114Sticker price $294 | Lowest price of any hospital | $114 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Bakersfield CA · Price file October 5, 2026 | $44Insurance typically pays $118Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 98% of hospitals | $118 | $294 |
| Adventist Health St Helena CA | $47Insurance typically pays $118Sticker price $316 | Cheaper than 97% of hospitals | $118 | $316 |
| Adventist Health Tulare CA · Price file May 22, 2026 | $56Insurance typically pays $86Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 95% of hospitals | $86 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Hanford CA · Price file August 1, 2026 | $56Insurance typically pays $98Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 95% of hospitals | $98 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Reedley CA · Price file August 2, 2026 | $56Insurance typically pays $107Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 95% of hospitals | $107 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Ukiah Valley CA · Price file May 24, 2026 | $59Insurance typically pays $235Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 91% of hospitals | $235 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley CA · Price file May 21, 2026 | $79Insurance typically pays $103Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 89% of hospitals | $103 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Howard Memorial CA · Price file August 2, 2026 | $88Insurance typically pays $250Sticker price $294 | Cheaper than 88% of hospitals | $250 | $294 |
| Adventist Health Sonora CA · Price file May 23, 2026 | $220Insurance typically pays $864Sticker price $1,294 | Cheaper than 86% of hospitals | $864 | $1,294 |
| Natividad Medical Center CA · Price file August 14, 2026 | $272Insurance typically pays $96Sticker price $272 | Cheaper than 85% of hospitals | $96 | $272 |
| Adventist Health Mendocino Coast CA · Price file August 2, 2026 | $349Insurance typically pays $294Sticker price $528 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | $294 | $528 |
| University Of California Irvine Medical Center CA · Price file July 1, 2024 | $390Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $1,300 | Cheaper than 82% of hospitals | — | $1,300 |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA · Price file April 2, 2026 | $399Insurance typically pays $807Sticker price $2,350 | Cheaper than 80% of hospitals | $807 | $2,350 |
| Tahoe Forest Hospital CA · Price file September 28, 2026 | $431Insurance typically pays $388Sticker price $431 | Cheaper than 78% of hospitals | $388 | $431 |
| Redlands Community Hospital CA · Price file June 19, 2026 | $470Insurance typically pays $1,048Sticker price $1,960 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $1,048 | $1,960 |
| Providence Little Co Of Mary Med Ctr San Pedro CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $500Insurance typically pays $1,772Sticker price $1,429 | Cheaper than 75% of hospitals | $1,772 | $1,429 |
| Providence Little Company Of Mary Med Ctr Torrance CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $500Insurance typically pays $1,774Sticker price $1,429 | Cheaper than 75% of hospitals | $1,774 | $1,429 |
| Providence St. Jude Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $513Insurance typically pays $2,080Sticker price $1,069 | Cheaper than 72% of hospitals | $2,080 | $1,069 |
| Adventist Health Simi Valley CA · Price file May 21, 2026 | $541Insurance typically pays $2,374Sticker price $3,380 | Cheaper than 71% of hospitals | $2,374 | $3,380 |
| Adventist Health And Rideout CA · Price file July 6, 2026 | $567Insurance typically pays $1,821Sticker price $2,576 | Cheaper than 69% of hospitals | $1,821 | $2,576 |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $627Insurance typically pays $1,727Sticker price $1,791 | Cheaper than 68% of hospitals | $1,727 | $1,791 |
| White Memorial Medical Center CA | $702Insurance typically pays $1,049Sticker price $3,902 | Cheaper than 66% of hospitals | $1,049 | $3,902 |
| Glendale Adventist Medical Center CA · Price file July 30, 2026 | $713Insurance typically pays $2,544Sticker price $4,755 | Cheaper than 65% of hospitals | $2,544 | $4,755 |
| Ventura County Medical Center - Santa Paula Hospital CA · Price file November 3, 2026 | $718Insurance typically pays $87Sticker price $1,436 | Cheaper than 63% of hospitals | $87 | $1,436 |
| Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura Ventura, CA · Price file June 15, 2026 | $888Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $2,220 | Cheaper than 62% of hospitals | — | $2,220 |
| Adventist Health Clearlake CA · Price file July 29, 2026 | $1,028Insurance typically pays $2,405Sticker price $2,856 | Cheaper than 60% of hospitals | $2,405 | $2,856 |
| Orchard Hospital CA · Price file October 23, 2026 | $1,202Insurance typically pays $521Sticker price $2,002 | Cheaper than 58% of hospitals | $521 | $2,002 |
| Stanford Health Care CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $1,280Insurance typically pays $644Sticker price $2,560 | Cheaper than 57% of hospitals | $644 | $2,560 |
| San Antonio Regional Hospital CA · Price file April 2, 2026 | $1,412Insurance typically pays $1,563Sticker price $3,499 | Cheaper than 55% of hospitals | $1,563 | $3,499 |
| Providence Queen Of The Valley Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $1,424Insurance typically pays $1,010Sticker price $2,035 | Cheaper than 54% of hospitals | $1,010 | $2,035 |
| Providence St. Joseph Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $1,479Insurance typically pays $2,322Sticker price $3,082 | Cheaper than 52% of hospitals | $2,322 | $3,082 |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hsp At Stanford CA · Price file March 31, 2026 | $1,655Insurance typically pays $8,000Sticker price $3,310 | Cheaper than 51% of hospitals | $8,000 | $3,310 |
| Providence Mission Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $1,659Insurance typically pays $2,047Sticker price $3,457 | Pricier than 51% of hospitals | $2,047 | $3,457 |
| Oak Valley Hospital District CA · Price file July 17, 2026 | $1,984Insurance typically pays $1,561Sticker price $2,645 | Pricier than 52% of hospitals | $1,561 | $2,645 |
| Sutter Coast Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $2,571Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $2,571 | Pricier than 54% of hospitals | — | $2,571 |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Memorial Hospital Los Banos CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Medical Center Sacramento CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Davis Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Memorial Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Amador Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Tracy Community Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Solano Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,042Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,042 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | — | $3,042 |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,214Insurance typically pays $4,473Sticker price $4,120 | Pricier than 71% of hospitals | $4,473 | $4,120 |
| Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| California Pacific Medical Center Van Ness Campus CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Sutter Delta Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Sutter Lakeside Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Mills-peninsula Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Eden Medical Center CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Sutter Maternity Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-davies Campus Hosp CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Novato Community Hospital CA · Price file April 1, 2026 | $3,229Insurance typically pays $892Sticker price $3,229 | Pricier than 72% of hospitals | $892 | $3,229 |
| Cedars Sinai Medical Center CA · Price file November 26, 2025 | $3,416Insurance typically pays $10,495Sticker price $5,256 | Pricier than 91% of hospitals | $10,495 | $5,256 |
| Chinese Hospital CA · Price file July 22, 2026 | $3,713Insurance typically pays $957Sticker price $3,713 | Pricier than 92% of hospitals | $957 | $3,713 |
| Emanate Health Queen Of The Valley Hospital CA | $3,839Insurance typically pays $2,299Sticker price $3,839 | Pricier than 94% of hospitals | $2,299 | $3,839 |
| Emanate Health Foothill Presbyterian Hospital CA | $3,839Insurance typically pays $2,299Sticker price $3,839 | Pricier than 94% of hospitals | $2,299 | $3,839 |
| Emanate Health Inter-community Hospital CA | $3,839Insurance typically pays $2,299Sticker price $3,839 | Pricier than 94% of hospitals | $2,299 | $3,839 |
| Sonoma Valley Hospital CA · Price file May 22, 2026 | $4,267Insurance typically pays $4,000Sticker price $6,096 | Pricier than 98% of hospitals | $4,000 | $6,096 |
| Marinhealth Medical Center Greenbrae, CA | $5,980Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $9,966 | Highest price of any hospital | — | $9,966 |
| West Hills Hospital Medical Center CA | —Insurance typically pays $3,353Sticker price — | — | $3,353 | — |
| Good Samaritan Hospital CA | —Insurance typically pays $3,101Sticker price — | — | $3,101 | — |
| Corona Regional Medical Center CA | —Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,543 | — | — | $3,543 |
| Los Robles Hospital Medical Center CA | —Insurance typically pays $4,499Sticker price — | — | $4,499 | — |
| Palmdale Regional Medical Center CA | —Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,543 | — | — | $3,543 |
| Southwest Healthcare System-wildomar CA | —Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,543 | — | — | $3,543 |
Procedure code 32554. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.