Blood transfusion cost in San Diego, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 14 hospitals list a cash price for blood transfusion (giving blood or blood components): from $169.92 to $2,233.55, with a median of $716.21. The lowest listed price is at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and 4 other hospitals — $546.29 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $873.60 at 210 hospitals.
- The median here, $716.21, is 6% below the US median of $760.00.
- That is 1.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($450.73).
- San Diego, CA ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- Every hospital here lists a cash price below its full list price.
Cash prices at 14 facilities across 8 cities for code 36430, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 30, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$169.92Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla + 4 more
Median$716.21half of hospitals charge less
Highest$2,233.55in this market
Difference13.1×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
median
Lowest $169.92Highest $4,138.50
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla lowest La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC Transfusion Serv Ea Addhr File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $169.92 | $679.68 | $54.37–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas lowest Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC Transfusion Serv Ea Addhr File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $169.92 | $679.68 | $54.37–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista lowest San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Transfusion Serv Ea Addhr File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $169.92 | $679.68 | $54.37–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Green Hospital lowest La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC Transfusion Serv Ea Addhr File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $169.92 | $679.68 | $54.37–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego lowest San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Transfusion Serv Ea Addhr File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $169.92 | $679.68 | $54.37–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC Transfusion Serv 1-4hrs File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $338.40 | $1,353.60 | $56.07–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC Transfusion Serv 1-4hrs File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $338.40 | $1,353.60 | $56.07–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC Transfusion Serv 1-4hrs File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $338.40 | $1,353.60 | $56.07–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Transfusion Serv 1-4hrs File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $338.40 | $1,353.60 | $56.07–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Transfusion Serv 1-4hrs File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $338.40 | $1,353.60 | $56.07–$1,418.56 | 75% |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 ED BLOOD TRANSFUSION - 36430 - 8900177+73 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $564.00 | $2,741.45 | $337.56–$2,741.45 | 79% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Transfusion Blood/Products File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $585.00 | $780.00 | — | 25% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Transfusion Intermediate <2Hrs File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $833.25 | $1,111.00 | — | 25% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA FCT Blood Admin 2 hrs AC+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $847.41 | $1,412.35 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 OBS-BLOOD ADMIN 0-2 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $847.41 | $1,412.35 | — | 40% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 TRANSFUSION BLOOD/BLOOD COMPONENTS File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $873.60 | $1,680.00 | $434.00–$1,290.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 TRANSFUSION BLOOD/BLOOD COMPONENTS File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $873.60 | $1,680.00 | $434.00–$1,290.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 TRANSFUSION BLOOD/BLOOD COMPONENTS File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $873.60 | $1,680.00 | $434.00–$1,290.00 | 48% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA OBS-BLOOD ADMIN 2-4 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,018.68 | $1,697.80 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 CHEMO-BLOOD ADMIN 2 TO 4 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,018.68 | $1,697.80 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 BC BLOOD ADMIN 4 TO 6 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,225.03 | $2,041.72 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA BC BLOOD ADMIN 4 TO 6 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,225.03 | $2,041.72 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA ER BLOOD ADMIN 6 TO 8 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,466.47 | $2,444.11 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 ER BLOOD ADMIN 6 TO 8 HRS+4 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,466.47 | $2,444.11 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA SNF Transfusion of Blood File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,480.43 | $2,467.39 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 SNF Transfusion of Blood File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,480.43 | $2,467.39 | — | 40% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Transfusion Complex (2-3 Hrs) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,581.00 | $2,108.00 | — | 25% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Transfusion Complex (2-3Hr) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,660.50 | $2,214.00 | — | 25% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 IC-BLOOD ADMIN >8 HRS File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,676.26 | $2,793.76 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA IC-BLOOD ADMIN >8 HRS File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,676.26 | $2,793.76 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA FCT Blood Admin over 8 hrs AC+3 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,760.17 | $2,933.61 | — | 40% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 OBS-BLOOD ADMIN >8 HRS+3 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,760.17 | $2,933.61 | — | 40% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Nicu - Transfusion Serv 1-4 Hrs File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,898.25 | $2,531.00 | — | 25% |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 36430 BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE TechFee+3 more lines at this price File of May 29, 2026 · source file | $2,035.64 | $3,392.73 | $439.94–$2,676.86 | 40% |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Cell Saver Service+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,233.55 | $4,061.00 | $42.78–$5,482.35 | 45% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Transfusion Complex Mdr 4-5Hrs File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,312.75 | $4,417.00 | — | 25% |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Transfusion Of Blood Or Blood Products File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,472.88 | $6,314.32 | $20.00–$624.66 | 45% |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Transfusion Complex Extd>6Hrs File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,138.50 | $5,518.00 | — | 25% |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
Outpatient: lowest $169.92, median $716.21, highest $2,233.55 — a 13.1× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $847.41. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 11 of 11 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What blood transfusion is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Blood transfusion explained.