CT scan of the chest with contrast Cost by Hospital

CT scan of the chest with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2353 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,527median cash price · 2353 hospitals, 52 statestypically $470–$4,082 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,770
Cash / self-pay
$1,527
Insurer-negotiated
$489
Medicare pays
$167
$470$4,082
Median cash $1,527  ·  Medicare $167  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,527 — about 9.2× the Medicare rate ($167). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($333).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,770 list price could save about $1,243 (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
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Montclair, NJ $230 $2,535 ★ 4/5 234 min 15.1%
St Joseph Hospital Bangor, ME $231 $203 ★ 3/5 188 min 15.6%
Penn State Health St. Joseph Reading, PA $231 $203 ★ 3/5 216 min 15.6%
The University Hospital Newark, NJ $234 $477 ★ 1/5 294 min 15.6%
Oklahoma Spine Hospital Oklahoma City, OK $235 $160 110 min 13.1%
Frederick Health Hospital Frederick, MD $236 ★ 3/5 230 min 14.1%
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc Salisbury, MD $237 $242 ★ 4/5 176 min 13.8%
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%
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%
Geneva General Hospital Geneva, NY $253 $162 ★ 2/5 183 min 16.9%
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital of Yates Penn Yan, NY $253 $278 110 min 15.0%
Surgical Institute of Reading Wyomissing, PA $253 $261 16.0%
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $254 $259 ★ 5/5 231 min 13.5%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson Carson City, MI $255 $179 ★ 4/5 95 min 15.2%
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, PA $258 $176 ★ 3/5 229 min 15.1%
Calverthealth Medical Center Prince Frederick, MD $262 ★ 5/5 200 min 14.3%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $262 $202 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
Medstar Harbor Hospital Baltimore, MD $265 $270 ★ 4/5 208 min 13.7%
Elbert Memorial Hospital Elberton, GA $267 $289 120 min 15.0%
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $273 $185 ★ 3/5 191 min 16.0%
Gordon Memorial Hospital District Gordon, NE $274 $259 105 min 15.4%

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 chest 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: $1,527; Medicare pays $167.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$136
$46 – $202
Medicaid 367
$159
$42 – $572
Tricare / VA 431
$175
$65 – $1,460
Devoted Health 179
$175
$163 – $772
Medicare 610
$177
$54 – $751
Independent Health 34
$178
$58 – $361
Highmark 133
$183
$109 – $382
Amerigroup 176
$185
$105 – $693
Molina Healthcare 585
$189
$54 – $1,158
SelectHealth 48
$200
$168 – $1,648
Geisinger 72
$202
$84 – $663
Centene / Ambetter 820
$217
$97 – $1,728
MVP Health Care 83
$238
$78 – $1,890
AmeriHealth 240
$240
$84 – $1,441
Kaiser Permanente 230
$259
$156 – $2,464
UPMC Health Plan 109
$271
$144 – $1,307
Anthem 603
$284
$94 – $1,396
EmblemHealth 66
$285
$172 – $652
Bright Health 44
$299
$200 – $3,819
UnitedHealthcare 1617
$305
$106 – $2,373
Oscar Health 161
$310
$156 – $1,410
UCare 73
$313
$106 – $2,031
Harvard Pilgrim 63
$316
$144 – $2,026
Humana 1081
$318
$132 – $1,982
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1366
$378
$110 – $2,500
Priority Health 61
$398
$80 – $1,860
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 157
$443
$148 – $2,344
Cigna 1213
$571
$171 – $3,079
Aetna 1498
$701
$149 – $2,824
HealthPartners 282
$722
$121 – $2,758
Medica 263
$814
$129 – $2,849
Sanford Health Plan 78
$965
$164 – $2,658
Security Health Plan 64
$1,073
$152 – $1,954
Health Net 344
$1,123
$177 – $5,257
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,568
$620 – $2,850
Coventry 163
$1,823
$178 – $3,983
MultiPlan / PHCS network 914
$2,084
$280 – $5,578
AvMed 65
$2,097
$322 – $5,369

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
Puerto Rico$250
New Jersey$676
Arkansas$731
Rhode Island$740
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
Sanjay Saini, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBoston, MA3,589
Ronald Goodwich, MDDiagnostic RadiologyFort Myers, FL2,166
Amol Katkar, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyFort Worth, TX1,562
Rahul Sawlani, MDDiagnostic RadiologyMilwaukee, WI1,560
Michael Hanley, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyCharlottesville, VA1,394
Subba Digumarthy, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBoston, MA1,387
Staci Gagne, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBoston, MA1,324
Medina Kushen, M.D.Nuclear MedicineNaples, FL1,313
Paul Makhlouf, MDNuclear MedicineNaples, FL1,296
Mark Hammer, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyPhiladelphia, PA1,288
Juan Olazagasti, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyCharlottesville, VA1,261
Michael Chung, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyRoanoke, VA1,255

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover CT scan of the chest with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the chest with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $167. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $33 — 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 2353 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,527, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,770, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $489, a Medicare rate of about $167. Most cash prices fall between $470 and $4,082 — 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 chest with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2353 US hospitals is $1,527. Most hospitals fall between $470 and $4,082. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the chest with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $167). 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 chest with contrast?
Medicare pays about $167. 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 chest 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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