Best Hospitals in Seattle (2026)
Seattle's healthcare scene is strong and competitive. With four 5-star hospitals and a deep bench of 4-star facilities, the Puget Sound region offers some of the best hospital care in the western U...
Seattle's healthcare scene is strong and competitive. With four 5-star hospitals and a deep bench of 4-star facilities, the Puget Sound region offers some of the best hospital care in the western United States. The presence of Virginia Mason, Swedish, EvergreenHealth, and Providence gives residents real choices.
This guide ranks Seattle-area hospitals by CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency — helping you find the right combination of quality and value.
Top 5 Hospitals in Seattle
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Priced Procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Mason Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.33 | 229 |
| Swedish Issaquah | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.26 | 143 |
| EvergreenHealth Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.33 | 107 |
| St. Clare Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | 193 |
| Swedish Medical Center - First Hill | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | 143 |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
Seattle has four 5-star hospitals: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Swedish Issaquah, EvergreenHealth Medical Center, and St. Clare Hospital. The 4-star tier is even deeper, with Swedish First Hill, Swedish Ballard, Swedish Cherry Hill, St. Anthony Hospital, and St. Joseph Medical Center. Only a few facilities drop to 2–3 stars.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Seattle hospitals generally show higher cost-to-charge ratios than national averages — meaning lower markups. Virginia Mason and EvergreenHealth both sit at 0.33, charging about 3x actual cost. Swedish Issaquah is at 0.26. Swedish Cherry Hill is at 0.23. St. Anthony Hospital at 0.15 offers the lowest ratio among well-rated hospitals.
These ratios reflect Washington state's relatively competitive hospital market and strong regulatory environment.
Price Transparency
Virginia Mason leads with an outstanding 229 priced procedures — the most transparent 5-star hospital in Seattle. MultiCare Auburn publishes 227 (but at 2-star quality). St. Clare Hospital and St. Francis Hospital each publish 193. Swedish facilities publish 143 each.
Best Value Hospitals in Seattle
- Best overall: Virginia Mason Medical Center — 5-star, 0.33 ratio (low markup), 229 priced procedures
- Best suburban 5-star: Swedish Issaquah — 5-star with 0.26 ratio and 143 published prices
- Best 4-star value: St. Anthony Hospital — 4-star with 0.15 ratio and 196 priced procedures
- Best transparency: Virginia Mason at 229 procedures, followed by MultiCare Auburn at 227
- Best Eastside option: EvergreenHealth Medical Center — 5-star in Kirkland with 107 published prices
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Seattle
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $15–$200 depending on facility
- CT scans: $300–$3,500 in the Seattle metro
- MRI: $400–$4,200+ — freestanding imaging centers offer significant savings
- ER visits: Facility fees from $700 at smaller facilities to $2,200+ at major hospitals
Compare real prices using Taven's price comparison tool.
Seattle Hospital System Overview
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health — Merged system including Virginia Mason Medical Center (5-star), St. Joseph Medical Center (4-star), St. Anthony Hospital (4-star), St. Clare Hospital (5-star), and St. Francis Hospital (3-star). Known for lean healthcare management and quality.
- Swedish Health Services — Part of Providence. Multiple campuses: Issaquah (5-star), First Hill, Ballard, Cherry Hill (all 4-star). The largest hospital system in the Seattle metro.
- EvergreenHealth — Independent community hospital in Kirkland (5-star). Strong Eastside option with 0.33 cost-to-charge ratio.
- Overlake Medical Center — Eastside community hospital in Bellevue (3-star). Strong reputation for cancer and cardiac care.
- MultiCare Health System — Tacoma-based system with Auburn Medical Center (2-star) in the south metro. High transparency (227 procedures).
- Providence Regional Medical Center Everett — North of Seattle (2-star). Serves Snohomish County.
- UW Medicine — Includes Harborview Medical Center (Level I trauma) and UW Medical Center. Major academic system (check CMS ratings separately as they may be listed under different names).
Seattle's Healthcare Advantage
Seattle's hospital market benefits from strong competition between three major systems (Virginia Mason Franciscan, Swedish/Providence, and EvergreenHealth) plus independent facilities. Washington state's healthcare regulations and a health-conscious population drive quality. The result: cost-to-charge ratios that are notably better (lower markups) than most U.S. metros.
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Seattle
- Virginia Mason is the standout. 5-star quality, lowest markups among top hospitals, and the most transparent pricing in Seattle (229 procedures).
- Swedish offers the most locations. With four campuses all at 4–5 stars, it's a reliable choice anywhere in the metro.
- Eastside residents have great options. EvergreenHealth (5-star) and Overlake (3-star) serve Kirkland/Bellevue well.
- Compare prices before scheduled procedures. Use Taven's comparison tool with real Seattle data.
- Washington has strong patient protections. Including the Balance Billing Protection Act for surprise bills and robust patient rights.
- Ask about charity care — Washington requires hospitals to offer financial assistance, with some of the strongest charity care laws in the nation.
- Get a Good Faith Estimate before any planned procedure.
- Review your bill. Use our free bill review tool to catch errors and overcharges.
How We Rank Hospitals
Our rankings use CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, cost-to-charge ratios from CMS cost reports, and price transparency compliance data. We don't accept advertising from hospitals. Learn more about our methodology.