Self-pay or cash price

What does Self-pay or cash price mean on a medical bill?

The self-pay or cash price is what a provider charges someone paying without insurance, and it usually sits far below the list price on the statement. Hospitals are generally required to publish pricing information, and many quote a cash rate on request. It is not automatically the better deal: paying cash normally means no claim is filed, so nothing counts toward your deductible or your out-of-pocket maximum, and a high-deductible year can end up costing more overall.

What does Self-pay or cash price usually cost?

This price replaces the list price rather than discounting your insured share, and it usually applies only to the provider quoting it. The hospital's cash rate says nothing about what the physician group will charge for the same visit.

What should I watch out for with Self-pay or cash price?

• Ask for the self-pay price and compare it against your share on the EOB before choosing
• Ask your plan whether a cash payment will count toward your deductible, since it usually will not
• Ask whether the quoted price covers the doctor's bill too, or only the facility side