How much does Chest X-ray cost in Los Angeles?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $54 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center to $312 at Adventist Health Glendale, based on the hospitals' own federally mandated price files.

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 · Chest X-ray · Los Angeles · code 71046

How much does a chest x-ray cost in Los Angeles?

Standard two-view chest X-ray. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 29 Los Angeles-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$54

lowest median negotiated rate

Torrance Memorial Medical Center

$312

highest (adult hospitals)

Adventist Health Glendale

5.8×

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 29 hospitals · file dates 2025-11-26 → 2026-07-30 · retrieved 2026-08-03 → 2026-08-08

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Adventist Health Glendale, the self-pay price is $100 — less than the $312 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 350 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $23 all-in for this procedure (2277 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($54).

Khadija Aziz — $6
Sonya Thomas — $7
Jeffrey Miller — $7
Andrew Hwang — $7

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.

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