Rapid strep test cost in Merced, CA — inpatient
In Merced, CA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for rapid strep A antigen test from a throat swab, read visually as an inpatient: from $137.51 to $137.51, with a median of $137.51. Across California, the median is $89.84 at 129 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 87880, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Feb 28, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dignity Health Merced, CA · (209) 564-5000 STREP A IA AG OPTIC | $137.51 | $267.00 | $160.20–$250.98 | 48% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $137.51, median $137.51, highest $137.51.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $137.51 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated and 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 rapid strep test checks a throat swab for group A strep bacteria, the cause of strep throat, and gives a result in minutes. It helps the clinician decide whether antibiotics are needed.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the rapid test only. The visit is billed separately, and a backup throat culture, if done, has its own charge.