Head CT angiogram (CTA) cost in Santa Cruz, CA — inpatient
In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, 2 hospitals list a cash price for CT angiography (CTA) of the head as an inpatient: from $4,612.05 to $6,332.49, with a median of $5,472.27. The lowest listed price is at Dominican Hospital — $860.22 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $3,234.20 at 208 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 70496, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Sep 15, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital lowest Santa Cruz, CA · (831) 462-7700 CT ANGIO HEAD W CON | $4,612.05 | $10,249.00 | $8,199.20–$8,711.65 | 55% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Watsonville Community Hospital Watsonville, CA · (831) 724-4741 CTA-HEAD | $6,332.49 | $10,554.15 | $373.49–$10,554.15 | 40% | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Watsonville Community Hospital Watsonville, CA · (831) 724-4741 CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | $6,332.49 | $10,554.15 | $373.49–$10,554.15 | 40% | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $4,612.05, median $5,472.27, highest $6,332.49 — a 1.4× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $5,472.27 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 2 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is 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 it is
A head CTA uses contrast dye and fast CT scanning to show the blood vessels of the brain. It is used in suspected stroke, for aneurysms and for sudden severe headache.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan and any contrast dye. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.