CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) Cost

CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2389 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,551median cash price · 2389 hospitals, 52 statestypically $470–$4,294 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,715
Cash / self-pay
$1,551
Insurer-negotiated
$500
Medicare pays
$168
$470$4,294
Median cash $1,551  ·  Medicare $168  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,551 — about 9.2× 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 $2,715 list price could save about $1,164 (43%).

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
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $233 $234 ★ 2/5 109 min —
The University Hospital Newark, NJ $234 $515 ★ 1/5 307 min —
Oklahoma Spine Hospital Oklahoma City, OK $235 $159 — 112 min —
Frederick Health Hospital Frederick, MD $236 — ★ 3/5 230 min —
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc Salisbury, MD $237 $242 ★ 4/5 177 min —
Centrastate Medical Center Freehold, NJ $238 $423 ★ 4/5 219 min —
Good Samaritan Hospital Vincennes, IN $244 $249 ★ 2/5 119 min —
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD $244 $249 ★ 3/5 247 min —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $252 $188 ★ 4/5 298 min —
Surgical Institute of Reading Wyomissing, PA $253 $366 — — —
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $254 $259 ★ 5/5 228 min —
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $258 $183 ★ 3/5 190 min —
Calverthealth Medical Center Prince Frederick, MD $262 — ★ 5/5 194 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $263 $306 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $263 $306 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Wayne County Hospital Monticello, KY $263 — — — —
Medstar Harbor Hospital Baltimore, MD $265 $270 ★ 4/5 212 min —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $274 $1,101 ★ 4/5 174 min —
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $274 $325 ★ 2/5 89 min —
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $274 $325 ★ 2/5 — —
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Camp Hill, PA $276 $341 ★ 3/5 252 min —
Baxter Health Mountain Home, AR $280 $124 ★ 2/5 184 min —
Dunes Surgical Hospital Dakota Dunes, SD $281 $600 — — —
Wellspan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital York, PA $282 $403 — — —
Atlantic General Hospital Berlin, MD $284 $284 ★ 3/5 147 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 October 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)

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: $1,551; Medicare pays $168.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$115
$49 – $205
Independent Health 34
$148
$51 – $423
Medicaid 375
$150
$43 – $580
Medicare 618
$161
$58 – $698
Highmark 140
$165
$81 – $404
Tricare / VA 439
$175
$58 – $1,447
Amerigroup 177
$178
$77 – $472
Devoted Health 183
$180
$99 – $651
Molina Healthcare 590
$191
$68 – $1,303
MVP Health Care 84
$228
$62 – $1,875
Centene / Ambetter 845
$236
$85 – $1,820
Geisinger 76
$241
$82 – $1,283
AmeriHealth 245
$245
$73 – $1,156
SelectHealth 48
$246
$107 – $2,112
EmblemHealth 81
$285
$131 – $686
Oscar Health 175
$286
$112 – $1,290
Anthem 621
$298
$89 – $1,255
Priority Health 60
$300
$68 – $1,687
UnitedHealthcare 1646
$316
$96 – $2,293
UPMC Health Plan 114
$323
$99 – $1,305
UCare 73
$332
$84 – $2,261
Harvard Pilgrim 61
$357
$113 – $1,813
Kaiser Permanente 233
$360
$121 – $2,693
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1381
$363
$102 – $2,470
Humana 1095
$365
$100 – $1,824
Bright Health 44
$465
$139 – $4,360
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 160
$514
$148 – $2,346
HealthPartners 284
$536
$97 – $2,714
Cigna 1246
$564
$124 – $3,363
Aetna 1528
$650
$105 – $3,033
Medica 265
$854
$112 – $2,814
Security Health Plan 65
$1,021
$104 – $2,063
Health Net 345
$1,123
$134 – $5,921
Sanford Health Plan 80
$1,137
$127 – $2,509
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,421
$517 – $3,180
Coventry 166
$1,919
$166 – $4,774
AvMed 67
$2,011
$738 – $4,081
MultiPlan / PHCS network 925
$2,312
$294 – $6,484

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
Maryland$249
Rhode Island$567
New Jersey$602
Arkansas$678
New York$744
Mississippi$762

Prices by city

Prices by state

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

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the neck (cervical spine). 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 2389 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,551, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,715, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $500, a Medicare rate of about $168. Most cash prices fall between $470 and $4,294 — 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) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2389 US hospitals is $1,551. Most hospitals fall between $470 and $4,294. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the neck (cervical spine)?
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)?
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) 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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