Ear irrigation cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 40 hospitals list a cash price for earwax removal by irrigation (rinsing), one ear: from $32.90 to $674.17, with a median of $187.20. The lowest listed price is at Catalina Island Medical Center — $154.30 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $177.52 at 140 hospitals.
- The median here, $187.20, is 77% above the US median of $105.95.
- That is 3.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($60.27).
- Los Angeles, CA ranks 3rd of 4 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- 11 of 40 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 40 facilities across 31 cities for code 69209, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 3, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$32.90Catalina Island Medical Center
Median$187.20half of hospitals charge less
Highest$674.17in this market
Difference20.5×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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $32.90Highest $674.17
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Island Medical Center lowest Avalon, CA · (310) 510-0700 Removal of impacted ear wax by washing File of Jul 20, 2026 · source file | $32.90 | $47.00 | $11.54–$514.61 | 30% |
| St Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA · (310) 900-8900 Hc Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $275.05 | $11.54–$247.55 | 73% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 827-3000 Hc Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $418.91 | $11.54–$418.91 | 82% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas, CA · (909) 599-6811 Hc Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $342.17 | $11.54–$342.17 | 78% |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $278.00 | $11.54–$278.00 | 73% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 REMOV IMP CER IRRIG/LAVUNILAT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $253.08 | $11.54–$253.08 | 70% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $418.91 | $11.54–$418.91 | 82% |
| Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center Garden Grove, CA · (714) 537-5160 Hc Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $425.00 | $11.54–$425.00 | 82% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 RMV IMPACT CERUMEN IRR/LVG UNI File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $287.40 | $11.54–$287.40 | 74% |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $93.60 | $195.00 | — | 52% |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $96.95 | $277.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $101.50 | $290.00 | — | 65% |
| USC Arcadia Hospital Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 REM IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $163.45 | $467.00 | $118.40–$1,668.00 | 65% |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley, CA · (818) 767-3310 Impacted Cerumen Removal,irrig source file | $171.00 | $171.00 | $60.00–$171.00 | — |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay one side Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey one side Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA one side Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills one side Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park one side Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City one side Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles one side Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim one side Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine one side Irvine, CA · (714) 279-4000 REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.20 | $360.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $189.00 | $540.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $189.00 | $540.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $201.60 | $420.00 | — | 52% |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $221.28 | $461.00 | — | 52% |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $249.90 | $714.00 | — | 65% |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 Removal Impacted Cerumen Irrigation/Lvg Unil File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $255.25 | $255.25 | — | — |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC ED REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $365.05 | $1,043.00 | — | 65% |
| Catalina Island Medical Center Avalon, CA · (310) 510-0700 Removal of impacted ear wax by washing File of Jul 20, 2026 · source file | $379.12 | $541.60 | $11.54–$541.60 | 30% |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital one side Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG RT+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $406.35 | $406.35 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park one side Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG RT+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $406.35 | $406.35 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena one side Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG LT+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $406.35 | $406.35 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital one side Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG RT+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $406.35 | $406.35 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Removal Impacted Cerumen Irrigation/Lvg Unil File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $438.75 | $438.75 | — | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 ER-RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRGTNLAVAGE UNI File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $450.00 | $450.00 | $11.54–$2,254.00 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 ER-RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRGTNLAVAGE UNI File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $450.00 | $450.00 | $11.54–$2,254.00 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 ER-RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRGTNLAVAGE UNI File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $450.00 | $450.00 | $11.54–$2,254.00 | — |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 REM CERUMEN IMPACT IRR/LAVAG File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $496.00 | $496.00 | $9.23–$1,173.00 | — |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 HB REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI+2 more lines at this price File of Nov 26, 2025 · source file | $674.17 | $1,037.19 | $73.96–$9,827.82 | 35% |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park both sides Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $610.05 | $610.05 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital both sides Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $610.05 | $610.05 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena both sides Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $610.05 | $610.05 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital both sides Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 RMVL IMPCTD CERUMEN IRRIGAT/LAVAG BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $610.05 | $610.05 | $14.86–$1,266.00 | — |
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
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $32.90, median $187.20, highest $674.17 — a 20.5× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $610.05, median $610.05, highest $610.05.
The two groups are not comparable and are not averaged together: a
price for both sides of the body covers twice the work. Merging them is how a single
published "median" ends up far above what one side actually costs.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 32 facilities here, median $195.30. 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 18 of 29 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 ear irrigation is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Ear irrigation explained.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 69209 ($101.50). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| Hospital | Cash price | File |
|---|---|---|
| UCI Health-Orange Orange, CAHB REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT | $8.40 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.