--- title: "Healthcare Costs and Charges" description: "At Sutter, we strive to make our healthcare costs transparent and services affordable. Get a cost estimate for your care and read answers to frequently asked questions on healthcare costs." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance) / 3. Healthcare Costs and Charges ![doctor-smiling-with-young-patient-and-parents](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/medical-doctors/doctor-smiling-with-young-patient-and-parents.jpg?h=3962&iar=0&w=6720) # Costs and Charges  At Sutter Health, we strive to provide the highest quality care at transparent, affordable prices. [Cost Estimator Tool](https://myhealthonline.sutterhealth.org/mho/GuestEstimates) [Hospital Costs Transparency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/cost-transparency) ![doctor-smiling-with-young-patient-and-parents](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/medical-doctors/doctor-smiling-with-young-patient-and-parents.jpg?h=3962&iar=0&w=6720) **Section menu** - [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance "Billing and insurance") - [Help Paying Your Bill](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/financial-assistance "Help Paying Your Bill") - [Healthcare Costs and Charges](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges "Healthcare Costs and Charges") - [Billing for Hospital Anesthesia](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/billing-hospital-anesthesia "Billing for Hospital Anesthesia") - [Healthcare Cost Transparency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/cost-transparency "Healthcare Cost Transparency") - [No Surprises Act](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/no-surprises-act "No Surprises Act") - [Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process "Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process") - [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare") - [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period") - [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics") - [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits") - [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period") - [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period") - [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties") - [Medicare Related Events](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare-related-events "Medicare Related Events") - [Sutter Medicare Direct](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/sutter-medicare-direct "Sutter Medicare Direct") - [Health Insurance Information Guide](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/health-insurance-information-guide "Health Insurance Information Guide") - [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance "Billing and insurance") - [Help Paying Your Bill](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/financial-assistance "Help Paying Your Bill") - [Healthcare Costs and Charges](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges "Healthcare Costs and Charges") - [Billing for Hospital Anesthesia](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/billing-hospital-anesthesia "Billing for Hospital Anesthesia") - [Healthcare Cost Transparency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/cost-transparency "Healthcare Cost Transparency") - [No Surprises Act](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/no-surprises-act "No Surprises Act") - [Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process "Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process") - [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare") - [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period") - [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics") - [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits") - [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period") - [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period") - [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties") - [Medicare Related Events](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare-related-events "Medicare Related Events") - [Sutter Medicare Direct](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/sutter-medicare-direct "Sutter Medicare Direct") - [Health Insurance Information Guide](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/health-insurance-information-guide "Health Insurance Information Guide") Sutter supports healthcare cost transparency to help you make informed decisions about your care. As part of this effort, Sutter provides standard charges and access to an online cost estimator. These tools help provide out-of-pocket cost estimates for services provided in hospitals and care centers. ### Cost Estimator  Sutter’s Online Cost Estimator tool can be used to estimate the individual out-of-pocket cost of more than 200 frequently used medical services provided our care centers. The Cost Estimator also provides out-of-pocket cost estimates of 300 hospital services, including services identified by the federally required CMS Price Transparency Rule. [Cost Estimator Tool](https://myhealthonline.sutterhealth.org/mho/GuestEstimates) ### Hospital Lists of Standard Charges  Every year, Sutter Health and other health systems post a comprehensive list of standard charges that are provided in Sutter acute care settings. [Healthcare Cost Transparency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/cost-transparency) ## For Sutter Patients If you have questions about the estimated costs of a scheduled procedure at a Sutter hospital, please email [S3ContactCenterCBO@sutterhealth.org](mailto:S3ContactCenterCBO@sutterhealth.org) and a Sutter representative will reach out to you. You can also read more about [financial assistance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/financial-assistance), including charity care programs, and our [billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance) services.  ## Frequently Asked Questions  **How can I find the out-of-pocket cost for a specific procedure?** You should contact your health plan directly before an anticipated hospital procedure or admission. Find your plan’s customer service phone number on your insurance card. Our hospital staff can provide a general estimate of your out-of-pocket costs at our facility. Please call the appropriate Patient Advocate Line. - General Patient Advocate Line: [855-398-1639](tel:+1-855-398-1639) - Palo Alto Medical Foundation: [888-398-5677](tel:+1-888-398-5677) - Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation: [866-961-8535](tel:+1-866-961-8535) - Sutter Gould Medical Foundation: [866-961-8539](tel:+1-866-961-8539) - Sutter Medical Foundation: [866-961-8538](tel:+1-866-961-8538) - Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation: [866-699-3627](tel:+1-866-699-3627) **Why do costs vary between different facilities and medical groups?** Costs may vary based on your insurance benefits or the specific procedures, supplies or tests you need. Costs may also vary based on the type of facility in which a procedure is performed. This is because in some cases services may cost less if they're provided outside a hospital setting, such as in a Sutter outpatient surgery center. The cost information on your health plan’s website may not be complete or accurate. Please work directly with your doctor to identify the most appropriate care setting and treatment plan for you. **Why are quality measures important, and where can I learn about my hospital’s quality?** Government agencies and other trusted organizations track quality indicators for common medical conditions. Health systems like ours use this information to achieve the best results for patients. At our medical foundations and hospitals, we never stop improving the quality and safety of our care. Our [hospital quality measures](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/hospital-quality-dashboard) outperform California hospitals and the national average. **What is Sutter doing to lower healthcare costs?** Across our health system, we've strengthened our pledge to provide high-quality medical services and do our part in reducing overall healthcare costs. We seek to save patients, government payers and health plan providers hundreds of millions of dollars by working more efficiently. For example, we are: - Helping chronically ill patients avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital stays. - Eliminating unnecessary tests and treatments. - Reducing hospital-acquired infections. - Streamlining business functions. View our Sutter Health [annual report](https://www.sutterhealth.org/annualreport) to learn more. **What if I cannot pay my balance?**  Sutter offers [financial assistance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/financial-assistance) and payment plans to those who qualify. If you would like more information regarding payment plans, please [contact us](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance). ## Surgery Center FAQs  Common outpatient surgery center cost and quality questions. **How can I find the out-of-pocket cost for a certain procedure?** You should contact your health plan directly before an anticipated hospital procedure or admission. Find your plan’s customer service phone number on your insurance card. Our hospital staff can provide a general estimate of your out-of-pocket costs at our facility. Please call our Patient Advocate Line at [855-398-1639](tel:855-398-1639). **Why do costs vary between facilities?** Cost information on your health plan’s website may not be complete or accurate for an individual. Costs may vary based on your insurance benefits or the specific procedures, supplies or tests you need, and the type of facility in which a procedure is performed. In some cases, services may cost less if provided outside a hospital setting, such as in a Sutter Health outpatient surgery center. Please work directly with your physician to identify the most appropriate care setting and treatment plan for you. **Why are quality measures important, and where can I learn about my hospital's quality?** Government agencies and other trusted organizations track "quality indicators" for common medical conditions. Hospitals like ours use this information to achieve the best results for patients. At our hospital, we partner toward a single, shared purpose: providing high-value healthcare that’s personalized to patients’ needs. **What is your organization doing to lower healthcare costs?** Across Sutter, we're constantly striving to bring down costs. We have strengthened our pledge to provide high-quality medical services and do our part in reducing overall healthcare costs. We seek to save patients, government payers and health plan providers hundreds of millions of dollars by working more efficiently. For example, we are: - Helping chronically ill patients avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital stays - Eliminating of unnecessary tests and treatments - Reducing hospital acquired infections - Streamlining business functions To learn more, visit our Sutter Health [annual report](https://www.sutterhealth.org/annualreport). ### Disclaimer _Please check with your health plan if you need help understanding your benefits for the service chosen. 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