Head CT cost in California (2026): what insurers pay
Head CT cost in California, 2026: across four metro areas, the typical rate insurers pay for a head CT at doctors' offices and imaging centers ranges from $145 to $268, depending on the insurer and the area. Rates from the published files of Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna.
Typical rate at offices and imaging centers, by area and insurer
| Area | Anthem Blue Cross | Blue Shield of California | Aetna | UnitedHealthcare | Cigna |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $226 | $166 | $220 | $172 | $216 |
| Oakland | $268 | $165 | $242 | $212 | $259 |
| San Jose | $214 | $164 | $220 | $183 | $250 |
| Los Angeles | $195 | $145 | $191 | $188 | $216 |
Medians across billing entities within 20 miles of each downtown. A dash means fewer than 10 billing entities published a rate. Open an area for ranges and Medicare's rate.
About a head CT
A CT scan of the head without contrast dye. It is fast and widely available, and is often used after a head injury, for a sudden severe headache, or to check for bleeding. Billing code: CPT 70450.
What the price covers
- Rates here are for the whole service billed as one charge: the scan and the radiologist's reading.
- Head CTs done in an emergency room are billed at the hospital's own, usually higher, rates plus the emergency visit. This page covers offices and imaging centers only.
- A head CT with contrast (CPT 70460) is a different code.
Get the price for your exact plan
An insurer has many contracts, and each plan uses one of them. The figures on this page cover all of an insurer's contracts in the area. The price for your plan depends on which one applies, and that is set by your employer or the plan name on your insurance card.
Your insurer's own cost tool gives a plan-specific estimate once you sign in:
- Anthem Blue Cross: Anthem's Find Care and cost estimates
- Blue Shield of California: Blue Shield's Treatment Cost Estimator
- Aetna: Aetna's Find Care cost estimates
- UnitedHealthcare: UnitedHealthcare's price transparency tool
- Cigna: the myCigna cost estimator (sign in)
AI assistants can look it up too. Arlo's free price transparency API and the Arlo MCP server for Claude and ChatGPT take a service, a ZIP code and a plan, and return nearby in-network providers with their negotiated rates.
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.