CT scan of the chest Cost by Hospital

CT scan of the chest is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2311 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,511median cash price · 2311 hospitals, 52 statestypically $438–$3,895 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,643
Cash / self-pay
$1,511
Insurer-negotiated
$461
Medicare pays
$167
$438$3,895
Median cash $1,511  ·  Medicare $167  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,511 — about 9.1× 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 $2,643 list price could save about $1,132 (43%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
Quick fill:

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
Jefferson Stratford Hospital Stratford, NJ $227 $178 ★ 2/5 235 min 17.5%
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Montclair, NJ $230 $2,207 ★ 4/5 234 min 15.1%
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $233 $231 ★ 2/5 110 min 15.7%
The University Hospital Newark, NJ $234 $407 ★ 1/5 294 min 15.6%
Oklahoma Spine Hospital Oklahoma City, OK $235 $158 — 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%
Morristown Medical Center Morristown, NJ $238 $240 ★ 5/5 240 min 13.6%
Chilton Medical Center Pompton Plains, NJ $238 $292 ★ 5/5 226 min 13.5%
Overlook Medical Center Summit, NJ $238 $292 ★ 5/5 192 min 13.9%
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 $135 ★ 2/5 183 min 16.9%
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital of Yates Penn Yan, NY $253 $246 — 110 min 15.0%
Surgical Institute of Reading Wyomissing, PA $253 $263 — — 16.0%
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $254 $259 ★ 5/5 231 min 13.5%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $255 $193 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $258 $179 ★ 3/5 191 min 16.0%
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, PA $258 $176 ★ 3/5 229 min 15.1%
Citizens Memorial Hospital Bolivar, MO $261 $187 ★ 3/5 185 min 14.6%
Calverthealth Medical Center Prince Frederick, MD $262 — ★ 5/5 200 min 14.3%

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 June 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

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: $1,511; Medicare pays $167.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$116
$50 – $202
Medicaid 366
$147
$44 – $577
Independent Health 33
$153
$54 – $355
Medicare 616
$167
$54 – $751
Tricare / VA 430
$167
$60 – $1,305
Highmark 133
$169
$85 – $382
Devoted Health 166
$171
$102 – $776
Amerigroup 173
$177
$88 – $693
Molina Healthcare 566
$178
$54 – $1,080
Centene / Ambetter 824
$196
$74 – $1,343
Geisinger 73
$203
$92 – $661
AmeriHealth 229
$220
$82 – $1,384
MVP Health Care 83
$234
$72 – $1,643
UPMC Health Plan 97
$235
$103 – $1,307
UCare 70
$243
$88 – $2,316
SelectHealth 48
$245
$121 – $1,648
Oscar Health 147
$246
$110 – $1,480
Bright Health 44
$247
$147 – $3,678
EmblemHealth 66
$247
$131 – $650
Kaiser Permanente 235
$249
$119 – $2,459
UnitedHealthcare 1593
$259
$97 – $2,341
Anthem 584
$263
$89 – $1,320
Priority Health 61
$292
$74 – $1,691
Harvard Pilgrim 63
$297
$113 – $1,829
Humana 1068
$308
$100 – $1,785
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1359
$329
$100 – $2,407
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 158
$514
$148 – $2,272
Cigna 1195
$567
$126 – $3,087
HealthPartners 276
$674
$102 – $2,728
Aetna 1480
$689
$107 – $2,824
Medica 262
$833
$109 – $2,840
Security Health Plan 62
$1,044
$104 – $2,110
Health Net 344
$1,123
$135 – $4,936
Sanford Health Plan 79
$1,170
$136 – $2,655
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,408
$487 – $2,897
Coventry 160
$1,608
$153 – $4,321
MultiPlan / PHCS network 893
$2,056
$261 – $5,324
AvMed 63
$2,097
$738 – $4,585

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$636
Arizona$652
Rhode Island$666
Arkansas$702

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXBaltimore, MDCincinnati, OHNew York, NYSacramento, CABrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CAOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCMilwaukee, WINashville, TNOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOBirmingham, ALBoston, MALittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioWisconsinIllinoisNew YorkPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaFloridaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaIowaTennesseeMissouriColoradoNebraskaOklahomaArkansasKentuckyKansasIndianaVirginiaSouth DakotaWashingtonArizonaNew JerseyMississippiMassachusettsWest VirginiaMarylandMaineSouth CarolinaAlabamaNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoNew HampshireUtahConnecticutNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoWyomingHawaiiDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaVermontWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2311 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,511, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,643, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $461, a Medicare rate of about $167. Most cash prices fall between $438 and $3,895 — 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 cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2311 US hospitals is $1,511. Most hospitals fall between $438 and $3,895. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the chest?
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 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.

Related Imaging & Radiology

Chest X-rayX-ray of the neck (cervical spine) (3 views)Chest X-ray (2 views)X-ray of the neck (cervical spine)X-ray of the pelvisChest X-ray (1 view)X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine)Abdominal ultrasound

See more Imaging & Radiology.