CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast Cost

CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2224 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,605median cash price · 2224 hospitals, 52 statestypically $505–$4,664 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.5× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,912
Cash / self-pay
$1,605
Insurer-negotiated
$615
Medicare pays
$168
$505$4,664
Median cash $1,605  ·  Medicare $168  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,605 — about 9.5× the Medicare rate ($168). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($337).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,912 list price could save about $1,307 (45%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Wayne County Hospital Monticello, KY $243
Good Samaritan Hospital Vincennes, IN $244 $249 ★ 2/5 117 min 14.2%
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD $244 $249 ★ 3/5 234 min 14.9%
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $246 $959 ★ 4/5 174 min 16.3%
Doctor's Center De San Juan Santurce, PR $250 $285 15.5%
Doctors' Center Bayamon Bayamon, PR $250 $285 16.6%
Doctors' Center Hospital, Inc Manati, PR $250 $285 ★ 1/5 16.3%
Doctors Center Hospital Carolina Llc Carolina, PR $250 $285 315 min 15.8%
Unity Hospital Rochester, NY $253 $115 ★ 2/5 294 min 15.3%
Unity Specialty Hospital Rochester, NY $253 $115
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $254 $259 ★ 5/5 231 min 13.5%
Calverthealth Medical Center Prince Frederick, MD $262 ★ 5/5 200 min 14.3%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $263 $319 ★ 4/5 157 min 15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $263 $319 ★ 2/5 210 min 13.5%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $263 $198 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
Medstar Harbor Hospital Baltimore, MD $265 $270 ★ 4/5 208 min 13.7%
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $268 $234 ★ 2/5 110 min 15.7%
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $273 $233 ★ 3/5 191 min 16.0%
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $274 $348 ★ 2/5 81 min 15.4%
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $274 $348 ★ 2/5
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $276 $653 ★ 1/5 152 min 15.0%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $280 $503 ★ 4/5 183 min 15.0%
Atlantic General Hospital Berlin, MD $284 $284 ★ 3/5 146 min 14.9%
Gordon Memorial Hospital District Gordon, NE $285 $268 105 min 15.4%
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $286 127 min

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated August 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $1,605; Medicare pays $168.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$136
$48 – $205
Medicaid 335
$164
$44 – $574
Independent Health 30
$180
$61 – $735
Highmark 127
$200
$115 – $757
Amerigroup 170
$230
$97 – $487
MVP Health Care 77
$237
$62 – $2,088
Geisinger 69
$333
$82 – $1,314
Medicare 544
$333
$60 – $698
Molina Healthcare 561
$336
$91 – $1,367
Tricare / VA 411
$336
$61 – $1,355
Anthem 560
$346
$93 – $1,365
Priority Health 58
$348
$83 – $1,857
AmeriHealth 231
$349
$82 – $1,144
Devoted Health 178
$357
$324 – $665
SelectHealth 46
$359
$160 – $2,358
UPMC Health Plan 105
$381
$140 – $1,478
Harvard Pilgrim 53
$388
$132 – $2,189
Centene / Ambetter 785
$390
$104 – $1,883
UCare 65
$396
$84 – $2,558
UnitedHealthcare 1466
$436
$114 – $2,432
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1243
$441
$124 – $2,654
Humana 1010
$452
$150 – $2,039
EmblemHealth 61
$453
$172 – $936
Kaiser Permanente 228
$469
$164 – $2,936
Bright Health 42
$529
$422 – $4,311
Oscar Health 156
$554
$135 – $1,296
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 147
$563
$148 – $2,544
Cigna 1143
$635
$207 – $3,412
HealthPartners 220
$656
$118 – $2,553
Aetna 1405
$725
$151 – $3,061
Medica 207
$923
$132 – $2,814
Health Net 318
$1,158
$193 – $6,936
Security Health Plan 56
$1,259
$125 – $2,292
Sanford Health Plan 66
$1,300
$163 – $2,593
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,430
$639 – $3,296
AvMed 63
$1,911
$738 – $4,476
Coventry 147
$2,161
$337 – $5,493
MultiPlan / PHCS network 873
$2,453
$335 – $7,026

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
Puerto Rico$250
Maryland$254
New Jersey$602
Rhode Island$616
Arkansas$719
Mississippi$762

Prices by city

Prices by state

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
David Dreizin, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD91
Elana Smith, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD91
Michael Achilleos, MDDiagnostic RadiologyFort Worth, TX72
Steven Merandi, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyEl Segundo, CA69
Matthew Dattwyler, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD68
Alexis Boscak, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD52
Danny Leatherwood, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyIndianapolis, IN46
John Burger, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLouisville, KY43
Rikesh Parikh, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD43
Michael Shroads, M.D.Radiation OncologyRoanoke, IN43
E. Harned, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyIndianapolis, IN41
Daniel HillDiagnostic RadiologyPlainfield, IN39

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $168. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $34 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2224 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,605, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,912, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $615, a Medicare rate of about $168. Most cash prices fall between $505 and $4,664 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2224 US hospitals is $1,605. Most hospitals fall between $505 and $4,664. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $168). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast?
Medicare pays about $168. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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