Is it cheaper to pay cash than use insurance?

Sometimes. Several hospitals publish discounted cash prices below the rates insurers negotiate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the self-pay price.

Why do prices differ so much between hospitals?

Each hospital negotiates rates separately with each insurer, and hospitals in the same health system usually share one contract. The same procedure with the same insurer can cost several times more across town.

Costs · Imaging · Abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast) · San Francisco Bay Area · code 74177

How much does an abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast) cost in San Francisco Bay Area?

Q: How much does Abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast) cost in San Francisco Bay Area?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $513 at Stanford Health Care to $6,174 at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus, based on the hospitals' own federally mandated price files.

CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast dye — a common workup for abdominal pain. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 27 San Francisco Bay Area-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$513

lowest median negotiated rate

Stanford Health Care

$6,174

highest (adult hospitals)

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus

12.0×

price spread

same procedure, same metro

Rates shown

Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt

cash (self-pay) price

Hospital	Gross charge	Cash price	Negotiated	Range	# rates	vs median

* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.

SOURCE: standard-charges files from 27 hospitals · file dates 2026-03-01 → 2026-04-01 · retrieved 2026-08-15

Tip: if you haven't met your deductible, ask each hospital for its discounted cash price — it is often far below the billed charge.

Skipping the hospital? 117 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $254 all-in for this procedure (767 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($513).

Francisco Lazaga — $48
Dipa Patel — $50
Christopher Govea — $50
Ka-Wah Tung — $50

All-in (global) negotiated fees from Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare's federally mandated Transparency-in-Coverage files, newest dated 2026-08-01; hospital bars above show the facility fee only — a physician fee is usually billed on top. Estimates — confirm with the provider.

← Abdomen and pelvis CT (with contrast): overview