Blue Shield of California bone density scan cost in California (2026): what Blue Shield of California pays
Blue Shield of California bone density scan cost in California, 2026: Blue Shield of California's California median for a bone density scan at doctors' offices and imaging centers is $57. By area, its median runs from $50 (Los Angeles) to $58 (San Francisco). That is below the typical rate, $71, across the insurers other than Anthem. Original Medicare pays $45 to $54.
Blue Shield of California rate by area
| Area | Blue Shield of California median, middle half | Billing entities | Typical (excl. Anthem) | Original Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $58 $50 to $76 | 60 | $65 | $53 |
| Oakland | $57 $53 to $121 | 46 | $87 | $53 |
| San Jose | $57 $51 to $123 | 84 | $72 | $54 |
| Los Angeles | $50 $50 to $66 | 244 | $65 | $45 |
Providers within 20 miles of each downtown. Typical (excl. Anthem): the middle of the insurer medians in that area, leaving out Anthem's rate menu.
Your plan's price
Blue Shield of California has many contracts, and your plan uses one of them. Most providers' rates fall in the middle half shown above; the rate for your plan can be higher or lower. For a plan-specific estimate, sign in to Blue Shield's Treatment Cost Estimator.
About a bone density scan
A low-dose X-ray scan that measures bone density in the hip and spine, used to screen for and track osteoporosis. Billing code: CPT 77080.
What the price covers
- Rates here are for the whole service billed as one charge: the scan and the radiologist's reading.
- Osteoporosis screening is recommended for women 65 and older and for postmenopausal women under 65 at higher risk. When done as recommended screening, most plans cover it with no cost to you in network.
Where these numbers come from
Rates come from the price transparency files Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna publish. We clean the files before summarizing them and only show an insurer when enough providers report a rate. Medicare figures are from the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule. More on how these pages are built.