Forearm X-ray cost in San Diego, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 17 hospitals list a cash price for forearm X-ray (radius and ulna), 2 views: from $111.00 to $548.35, with a median of $353.60. The lowest listed price is at Paradise Valley Hospital — $242.60 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $398.61 at 186 hospitals.
Cash prices at 17 facilities across 10 cities for code 73090, 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.
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.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Valley Hospital one side lowest National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 FOREARM 2VWS LT | $111.00 | $584.13 | $20.57–$584.13 | 81% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital one side lowest National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 FOREARM 2VWS RT | $111.00 | $584.13 | $20.57–$584.13 | 81% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 FOREARM 2VWS BIL | $111.00 | $518.00 | $20.57–$584.13 | 79% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego one side San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrlj-Forearm Up To 2Vw Lt | $139.50 | $186.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital one side La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Unilat | $185.03 | $740.11 | $25.35–$592.09 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista one side San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Unilat | $185.03 | $740.11 | $25.35–$592.09 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego one side San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Unilat | $185.03 | $740.11 | $25.35–$592.09 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla one side La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Unilat | $185.03 | $740.11 | $25.35–$592.09 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas one side Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Unilat | $185.03 | $740.11 | $25.35–$592.09 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 RADEX FOREARM 2 VIEWS | $353.60 | $680.00 | $81.00–$240.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 RADEX FOREARM 2 VIEWS | $353.60 | $680.00 | $81.00–$240.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 RADEX FOREARM 2 VIEWS | $353.60 | $680.00 | $81.00–$240.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center one side Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC X-RAY FOREARM 2 VW - XR FOREARM 2 VIEWS LEFT | $458.25 | $611.00 | $1.10–$598.78 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital one side San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC X-RAY FOREARM 2 VW - XR FOREARM 2 VIEWS LEFT | $458.25 | $611.00 | $1.00–$501.02 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center one side Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC X-RAY FOREARM 2 VW - XR FOREARM 2 VIEWS LEFT | $458.25 | $611.00 | $1.00–$598.78 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital one side La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC X-RAY FOREARM 2 VW - XR FOREARM 2 VIEWS LEFT | $458.25 | $611.00 | $1.00–$598.78 | 25% | — source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway one side Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 DI Forearm 2 views Right | $499.37 | $832.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway one side Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 DI Forearm 2 views Left | $499.37 | $832.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido one side Escondido, CA DI Forearm 2 views Right | $499.37 | $832.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido one side Escondido, CA DI Forearm 2 views Left | $499.37 | $832.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 X-Ray Of Forearm, 2 Views | $548.35 | $997.00 | $24.59–$1,345.95 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas both sides Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Bilateral | $277.54 | $1,110.16 | $25.35–$888.13 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital both sides La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Bilateral | $277.54 | $1,110.16 | $25.35–$888.13 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista both sides San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Bilateral | $277.54 | $1,110.16 | $25.35–$888.13 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla both sides La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Bilateral | $277.54 | $1,110.16 | $25.35–$888.13 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego both sides San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Forearm Up to 2vw Bilateral | $277.54 | $1,110.16 | $25.35–$888.13 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $111.00, median $353.60, highest $548.35 — a 4.9× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $277.54, median $277.54, highest $277.54.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 16 facilities here, median $353.60. 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 14 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 it is
A forearm X-ray takes two pictures of the radius and ulna, the two bones between the elbow and the wrist. It is common after a fall on an outstretched arm, especially in children.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers taking the X-ray. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.