Ear tubes surgery cost in California
In California, 51 hospitals publish a cash price for ear tube placement (tympanostomy) under general anesthesia, one ear: from $1,472.45 to $12,291.00, with a median of $5,800.00. The lowest price is at Scripps Green Hospital (La Jolla) and 4 other hospitals. The highest price is 8.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $5,800.00, is 110% above the US median of $2,762.69.
- California ranks 34th of 36 states by median, cheapest first.
- 4 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 69436. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$1,472.45Scripps Green Hospital + 4 more
Median$5,800.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$12,291.00in California
Lowest saves$4,327.55vs the median
Hospitals in California, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scripps Green Hospital one side lowest La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Tympanostomy Unilateral | $1,472.45 | $5,889.82 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas one side lowest Encinitas · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Tympanostomy Unilateral | $1,472.45 | $5,889.82 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla one side lowest La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Tympanostomy Unilateral | $1,472.45 | $5,889.82 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista one side lowest San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Tympanostomy Unilateral | $1,472.45 | $5,889.82 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego one side lowest San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Tympanostomy Unilateral | $1,472.45 | $5,889.82 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Create Eardrum Opening | $1,985.00 | $9,792.63 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Shasta Regional Medical Center Redding · Redding, CA Create eardrum opening | $1,985.00 | $22,406.30 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana Fontana · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Moreno Valley Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Riverside · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Ontario Medical Center Campus Ontario · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $3,062.80 | $5,890.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA HC Tympanostomy Under General Anesthesia | $3,307.13 | $3,307.13 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Outpatient Surgery Group 2 Global Rate | $4,155.90 | $6,393.69 | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| NorthBay Medical Center Fairfield · Vallejo, CA Create Eardrum Opening | $5,800.00 | $5,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Tympanostomy General Anesthesia | $5,830.25 | $5,830.25 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital & Rehab Center - Vallejo Vallejo · Vallejo, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch Antioch · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont Fremont · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno Fresno · Fresno, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Manteca Manteca · Stockton-Lodi, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Modesto Modesto · Modesto, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond Oakland · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City Redwood City · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Roseville Roseville · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Jose San Jose · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro San Leandro · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael San Rafael · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Clara Santa Clara · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Rosa Santa Rosa · Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco South San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Vacaville Vacaville · Vallejo, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek Walnut Creek · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Richmond Campus Richmond · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA TYMPANOSTOMY GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $6,356.00 | $11,350.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Incision of eardrum with insertion of eardrum tube under general anesthesia | $8,056.66 | $14,648.48 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento one side Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA HCHG TYMPANOSTOMY WITH GEN ANESTHESIA LT | $9,697.00 | $9,697.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MarinHealth Medical Center one side Greenbrae · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA INCISION OF EARDRUM WITH PLACEMENT OF EARDRUM TUBE UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA | $12,291.00 | $20,485.00 | Mar 26, 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 | 12 | $1,985.00 | $3,062.80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 11 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 9 | $1,472.45 | $1,472.45 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5 | $3,062.80 | $3,062.80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 4 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
| Vallejo, CA | 3 | $5,800.00 | $6,356.00 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
| Fresno, CA | 1 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
| Modesto, CA | 1 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
| Redding, CA | 1 | $1,985.00 | $1,985.00 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1 | $6,356.00 | $6,356.00 |
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 ear tubes surgery is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Ear tubes surgery explained.
Ear tube placement (tympanostomy) under general anesthesia, one ear in other states
- Alabama$4,884.98
- Alaska$1,743.00, 3 hospitals
- Arizona$4,288.44
- Arkansas$1,975.24
- Colorado$1,332.00
- Delaware$2,000.00, 3 hospitals
- Florida$7,768.00
- Georgia$2,001.00
- Hawaii$1,668.80, 4 hospitals
- Idaho$3,330.00
- Illinois$1,677.85
- Indiana$6,116.13
- Iowa$3,041.73
- Kansas$1,461.00
- Kentucky$5,127.08
- Louisiana$1,497.32
- Maine$362.90, 1 hospital
- Maryland$2,995.98, 1 hospital
- Massachusetts$4,660.53
- Michigan$2,133.48
- Minnesota$1,841.80
- Mississippi$1,753.11
- Missouri$3,257.38
- Montana$1,417.75
- Nebraska$2,221.92
- Nevada$1,894.50
- New Hampshire$1,572.75, 2 hospitals
- New Jersey$4,338.73
- New Mexico$2,160.00, 4 hospitals
- New York$1,752.89
- North Carolina$2,225.80
- North Dakota$2,508.93
- Ohio$4,287.00
- Oklahoma$3,111.16
- Oregon$2,926.95, 3 hospitals
- Pennsylvania$3,189.76
- Puerto Rico$600.00, 1 hospital
- Rhode Island$4,512.01, 1 hospital
- South Carolina$5,198.12, 4 hospitals
- South Dakota$3,700.80
- Tennessee$2,177.67
- Texas$3,402.26
- Utah$2,335.22, 2 hospitals
- Vermont$402.50, 3 hospitals
- Virginia$4,338.69
- Washington$1,571.93
- West Virginia$1,755.75
- Wisconsin$610.62
- Wyoming$1,136.01, 2 hospitals
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.