How much does an emergency room visit cost in San Diego?
Emergency department visit of moderate to high severity — the levels most ER visits are billed at. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 9 San Diego-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$3,937
lowest median negotiated rate
Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
$6,378
highest (adult hospitals)
Scripps Mercy Hospital
1.6×
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 9 hospitals · file dates 2026-03-30 → 2026-04-01 · retrieved 2026-08-14
Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Scripps Mercy Hospital, the self-pay price is $1,969 — less than the $6,378 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.