Carotene at HCA HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE

225 E PARKWOOD AVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TX · HCA Houston Healthcare · · NPI 1063466035

Source: hospital's published price file ↗ · Published Mar 1, 2026 · Ingested Sep 10, 2026

$919.13

Cash price

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Discounted cash price

What a hospital charges a self-pay patient who pays directly, without going through insurance — usually well below the gross charge.

Example: A CT scan has a $3,200 gross charge but an $850 discounted cash price. Ask for it by name when scheduling — hospitals don't always advertise it up front.

Full explanation →

What you pay up front if you don't use insurance.

$919.13

Gross charge

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Gross charge (chargemaster price)

The hospital's full, undiscounted list price — pulled from its internal "chargemaster" price list. Almost no one actually pays this.

Example: A chest X-ray has a gross charge of $1,450. The same hospital's discounted cash price for the same X-ray is $180 — the gross charge mostly anchors negotiations, not what patients pay.

Full explanation →

The hospital's undiscounted list price — almost no one pays this.

$7.59 with Texas Health Network vs $742.55 with Affiliated PPO — same scan, same building. Share

Negotiated rates by payer
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Negotiated rate

The price a specific insurance plan agreed to pay the hospital for a service — it varies by insurer, and even by plan within the same insurer.

Example: The same knee MRI has a negotiated rate of $904 with one insurer's PPO plan and $1,509 with another's — identical hospital, identical scan.

Full explanation →

Payer
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Payer

The insurance company footing the bill — Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and so on.

Example: "Blue Cross Blue Shield" is the payer. Its negotiated rate for an MRI might be $904, while a different payer's negotiated rate for the same scan is $1,509.

Full explanation →
Plan
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Plan

The specific product an insurer sells — e.g. "Blue Cross PPO 500" — which sets your deductible, coinsurance and negotiated rates.

Example: Two people both insured by Aetna can owe very different amounts for the same MRI: $50 with an HMO plan's flat copay, or the full $1,200 toward a high-deductible PPO plan's unmet deductible.

Full explanation →
Negotiated rate vs. cash
Texas Health Network MCD $7.59 ↓ -99%
Texas Childrens Health Plans STAR $7.74 ↓ -99%
Amerigroup MCDCHIPBH $7.74 ↓ -99%
Community Health Choice MCD STAR+PLUS $7.74 ↓ -99%
Texas Childrens Health Plans STARKIDS $7.74 ↓ -99%
Community Health Choice MCD STAR $7.74 ↓ -99%
UTMB MGMCD $7.74 ↓ -99%
Community Health Choice MCD CHIPPerinatal $7.74 ↓ -99%
Community Health Choice MCD CHIP $7.74 ↓ -99%
Amerigroup MGMCD $7.74 ↓ -99%
United MGMCD $7.89 ↓ -99%
Aetna Better Health MGMCD $8.36 ↓ -99%
Molina Healthcare CHIP $8.51 ↓ -99%
Molina Healthcare STAR $8.51 ↓ -99%
Molina Healthcare STARKIDS $8.51 ↓ -99%
Molina Healthcare STARPLUS $8.51 ↓ -99%
Oscar MGMCR $9.04 ↓ -99%
Humana MedicareAdvantageHMO $9.22 ↓ -99%
United NarrowNetworkIndivExchange $9.22 ↓ -99%
TriWest Healthcare Alliance Veterans $9.22 ↓ -99%
United AllPayerAppendix $9.22 ↓ -99%
Devoted Health MGMCR $9.22 ↓ -99%
United SmallGroup $9.22 ↓ -99%
Humana MedicareAdvantagePPOPFFS $9.22 ↓ -99%
Renaissance IPA Radiology COMM $9.22 ↓ -99%
CHC Harris Health Indigent $9.22 ↓ -99%
Renaissance IPA Radiology MCR $9.22 ↓ -99%
BCBS MedicareAdvantageHMO $9.22 ↓ -99%
BCBS MCRPPO $9.22 ↓ -99%
Cigna HealthSpring MMP $9.22 ↓ -99%
Cigna HealthSpring PFFS $9.22 ↓ -99%
Cigna HealthSpring MCRSNP $9.22 ↓ -99%
Cigna HealthSpring MCRPPO $9.22 ↓ -99%
Cigna HealthSpring MCRHMO $9.22 ↓ -99%
Amerigroup DualEligible $9.22 ↓ -99%
Kelsey Seybold MGMCR $9.22 ↓ -99%
WellMed MGMCR $9.27 ↓ -99%
Aetna MCR $9.30 ↓ -99%
Van Lang IPA MCR $9.31 ↓ -99%
United MCR $9.40 ↓ -99%
WellCare PPO $9.50 ↓ -99%
WellCare MCRHMO $9.50 ↓ -99%
WellCare PFFS $9.50 ↓ -99%
WellCare POS $9.50 ↓ -99%
Integranet Amerigroup IPA MCR $9.50 ↓ -99%
WellCare SNP $9.50 ↓ -99%
Superior Health Plan MCRHMO $9.68 ↓ -99%
Humana MCD $9.68 ↓ -99%
American Health Plan MGMCR $9.68 ↓ -99%
Superior Health Plan DualEligible $9.68 ↓ -99%
Superior Health Plan MCRPOS $9.68 ↓ -99%
Superior Health Plan MCRPPO $9.68 ↓ -99%
Superior Health Plan MCRSNP $9.68 ↓ -99%
Superior Health Plan PFFS $9.68 ↓ -99%
ProCare Advantage MGMCR $9.68 ↓ -99%
Shared Health MGMCR $9.68 ↓ -99%
Provider Partners Health Plan of Texas POS $9.77 ↓ -99%
Provider Partners Health Plan of Texas PFFS $9.77 ↓ -99%
Provider Partners Health Plan of Texas PPO $9.77 ↓ -99%
Provider Partners Health Plan of Texas SNP $9.77 ↓ -99%
Provider Partners Health Plan of Texas MCRHMO $9.77 ↓ -99%
TriWest Health Alliance TRCR $9.98 ↓ -99%
Christus (USFHP) TRICARE $9.98 ↓ -99%
Molina MGMCR $10.05 ↓ -99%
Kindred Hospital MGMCR $10.60 ↓ -99%
Universal Healthcare Group MCR $11.06 ↓ -99%
Verda Health Plan MCR $11.99 ↓ -99%
Community Health Choice HIX $13.37 ↓ -99%
Superior ValueHMO $13.37 ↓ -99%
Superior HMO $14.29 ↓ -98%
Superior EPO $14.29 ↓ -98%
UTMB MGMCR $15.03 ↓ -98%
Corvel Corporation WORKERSCOMP $18.26 ↓ -98%
BCBS MyBlueHealth $18.62 ↓ -98%
OMNI Healthcare WORKERSCOMP $19.36 ↓ -98%
Molina Healthcare HIX $19.82 ↓ -98%
BCBS BAV $20.56 ↓ -98%
BCBS HMO $25.72 ↓ -97%
Oscar HIX $26.65 ↓ -97%
BCBS EPOSOA $27.57 ↓ -97%
Healthcare Highways NarrowNetwork $27.68 ↓ -97%
BCBS PPO $29.41 ↓ -97%
Aetna QHPExchange $33.79 ↓ -96%
Cigna CSN $37.63 ↓ -96%
Cigna OpenAccessPlus $40.76 ↓ -96%
Aetna NBPOS $44.93 ↓ -95%
Aetna NBHMO $44.93 ↓ -95%
Aetna NBPPO $44.93 ↓ -95%
Aetna COMMHMO $47.74 ↓ -95%
Aetna COMMPPO $47.74 ↓ -95%
Aetna COMMPOS $47.74 ↓ -95%
Cigna PPO $48.49 ↓ -95%
Superior Health Plan CHPFC $49.50 ↓ -95%
Superior Health Plan STAR $49.50 ↓ -95%
Superior Health Plan STARKids $49.50 ↓ -95%
Superior Health Plan STARPLUS $49.50 ↓ -95%
Superior Health Plan CHIP $49.50 ↓ -95%
Aetna OONHMO $56.08 ↓ -94%
Aetna OONPOS $56.08 ↓ -94%
Aetna OONPPO $56.08 ↓ -94%
Aetna ASAPOS $60.64 ↓ -93%
Aetna ASAHMO $60.64 ↓ -93%
Aetna ASAPPO $60.64 ↓ -93%
Humana PPO $123.24 ↓ -87%
Humana HMO $123.24 ↓ -87%
Texas Childrens Health Plans CHIP $136.96 ↓ -85%
United OptionsPPO $145.21 ↓ -84%
Texas Workforce Commission WCOMP $198.01 ↓ -78%
Evry Health BroadNetwork $225.24 ↓ -75%
IPA Management Services COMM $229.78 ↓ -75%
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman) COMM $288.77 ↓ -69%
BCBS Traditional $288.77 ↓ -69%
Imagine Health PPO $288.77 ↓ -69%
HealthSmart Preferred Care ACCEL $354.78 ↓ -61%
United GlobalAppendix $371.28 ↓ -60%
Fidelis SecureCare of TX MGMCR $371.28 ↓ -60%
Averde Health Commercial $371.28 ↓ -60%
Multiplan SAVILITYNETWORK $412.53 ↓ -55%
Coventry National First Health COMM $439.76 ↓ -52%
Physicians Cooperative of Texas WC $453.78 ↓ -51%
Rockport Workers Comp COMM $453.78 ↓ -51%
SouthWest Medical WORKERSCOMP $495.04 ↓ -46%
National Healthcare Solutions COMM $495.04 ↓ -46%
Beech Street WCOMP $495.04 ↓ -46%
Independent Medical System COMM $495.04 ↓ -46%
Coastal Comp COMM $536.29 ↓ -42%
Beech Street COMMPPO $660.05 ↓ -28%
HealthSmart Preferred Care PPO $676.55 ↓ -26%
Physicians, INC COMM $701.30 ↓ -24%
HealthSmart Preferred Care ACCOUNTABLEPPO $701.30 ↓ -24%
Cigna Behavioral Health COMMBH $735.30 ↓ -20%
Multiplan COMPLEMENTARYPPO $742.55 ↓ -19%
Affiliated PPO COMM $742.55 ↓ -19%
Curative Administrators COMM not published by hospital

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Carotene at other Texas hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER Dallas $83.84 $7.74 – $25.31
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BRENHAM Brenham $283.20 $4.17 – $30.38
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BUDA Suite 110 $283.20 $7.74 – $25.31
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - CENTENNIAL Frisco $83.84 $7.74 – $25.31
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - COLLEGE STATION College Station $283.20 $8.28 – $30.38
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CONTINUING CARE HOSPITAL Temple $283.20 $7.74 – $30.38
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER - CEDAR PARK Cedar Park $283.20 $7.74 – $30.38
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE ALL SAINTS MEDICAL CENTER - FORT WORTH Fort Worth $83.84 $7.74 – $25.31

All Texas hospitals for this procedure →