How much does a bone density scan (DEXA) cost in San Francisco Bay Area?
Low-dose x-ray scan of the hip and spine to measure bone density and screen for osteoporosis. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 26 San Francisco Bay Area-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$148
lowest median negotiated rate
Sutter Delta Medical Center
$445
highest (adult hospitals)
Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center
3.0×
price spread
same procedure, same metro
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 26 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.