Tonsillectomy, age 12+ cost in California
In California, 51 hospitals publish a cash price for tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) only, age 12 or older: from $1,456.00 to $17,275.40, with a median of $5,642.80. The lowest price is at Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park (Baldwin Park) and 15 other hospitals. The highest price is 11.9× the lowest.
- The median here, $5,642.80, is 32% above the US median of $4,277.65.
- California ranks 22nd of 35 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 51 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
California law (Health and Safety Code §127405): if you are uninsured or have high medical costs and your family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, a hospital may not expect you to pay more than it would expect from Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater. That can be less than the cash prices below; ask the hospital for its discount payment policy. A separate physician fee may still apply. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 42826. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$1,456.00Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park + 15 more
Median$5,642.80half of hospitals charge less
Highest$17,275.40in California
Lowest saves$4,186.80vs the median
Hospitals in California, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park lowest Baldwin Park · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey lowest Downey · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana lowest Fontana · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles lowest Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Moreno Valley lowest Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim lowest Anaheim · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City lowest Panorama City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside lowest Riverside · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa lowest San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion lowest San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos lowest San Marcos · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay lowest Harbor City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA lowest Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills lowest Woodland Hills · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine lowest Irvine · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Ontario Medical Center Campus lowest Ontario · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $1,456.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Removal of Tonsils | $1,854.94 | $7,419.78 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Removal of Tonsils | $1,854.94 | $7,419.78 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Removal of Tonsils | $1,854.94 | $7,419.78 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Removal of Tonsils | $1,854.94 | $7,419.78 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Removal of Tonsils | $1,854.94 | $7,419.78 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Desert Valley Hospital Victorville · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Removal of tonsils | $4,243.00 | $7,278.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Removal of tonsils | $4,243.00 | $7,500.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Removal Of Tonsils - 42826 - OR36042826 | $4,243.00 | $12,305.70 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| St Francis Medical Center Lynwood · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Removal Of Tonsils | $4,243.00 | $23,342.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Outpatient Surgical Group 4 | $5,642.80 | $8,681.23 | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA HC Tonsillectomy 12 or Over | $6,749.08 | $6,749.08 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| NorthBay Medical Center Fairfield · Vallejo, CA Removal Of Tonsils | $7,959.00 | $7,959.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital & Rehab Center - Vallejo Vallejo · Vallejo, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch Antioch · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont Fremont · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno Fresno · Fresno, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Manteca Manteca · Stockton-Lodi, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Modesto Modesto · Modesto, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond Oakland · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City Redwood City · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Roseville Roseville · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Jose San Jose · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro San Leandro · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael San Rafael · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Clara Santa Clara · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Rosa Santa Rosa · Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco South San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Vacaville Vacaville · Vallejo, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek Walnut Creek · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Richmond Campus Richmond · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TONSILLECTOMY PRIMARY/SECONDARY AGE 12/> | $8,657.60 | $15,460.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MarinHealth Medical Center Greenbrae · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA REMOVAL OF TONSILS (12 YEARS OR OLDER) | $9,168.40 | $15,280.66 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Removal of tonsils patient age 12 or over | $17,275.40 | $31,409.81 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 13 | $1,456.00 | $1,456.00 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 11 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 9 | $1,456.00 | $1,854.94 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 6 | $1,456.00 | $1,456.00 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
| Vallejo, CA | 3 | $7,959.00 | $8,657.60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
| Fresno, CA | 1 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
| Modesto, CA | 1 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1 | $8,657.60 | $8,657.60 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What tonsillectomy, age 12+ is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Tonsillectomy, age 12+ explained.
Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) only, age 12 or older in other states
- Alabama$7,011.46
- Alaska$9,676.32, 1 hospital
- Arizona$10,501.29
- Arkansas$2,680.14
- Colorado$8,292.12
- Delaware$5,802.95, 1 hospital
- Florida$9,647.03
- Georgia$9,791.00
- Hawaii$4,060.00, 3 hospitals
- Idaho$6,271.00
- Illinois$3,535.00
- Indiana$5,760.05
- Iowa$3,992.30
- Kansas$3,058.48
- Kentucky$7,132.37
- Louisiana$2,844.37
- Maine$604.26, 1 hospital
- Maryland$4,751.33, 1 hospital
- Massachusetts$6,438.82
- Michigan$4,020.18
- Minnesota$1,469.54
- Mississippi$2,222.36
- Missouri$4,745.03
- Montana$672.00
- Nebraska$3,796.37
- Nevada$3,684.75, 4 hospitals
- New Hampshire$3,689.38, 1 hospital
- New Jersey$4,327.45
- New Mexico$14,240.83, 3 hospitals
- New York$3,837.72
- North Carolina$4,620.46
- North Dakota$2,508.93
- Ohio$11,394.20
- Oklahoma$3,261.00
- Oregon$698.80, 4 hospitals
- Pennsylvania$6,713.14
- Rhode Island$2,372.63, 1 hospital
- South Carolina$10,435.55
- South Dakota$2,823.06, 2 hospitals
- Tennessee$4,534.74
- Texas$4,424.11
- Utah$6,435.00, 3 hospitals
- Vermont$2,771.01, 2 hospitals
- Virginia$11,944.47
- Washington$4,725.15
- West Virginia$4,002.00
- Wisconsin$1,674.12
- Wyoming$2,717.19, 2 hospitals
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.