CT scan of the head without contrast Cost

CT scan of the head without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2264 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,186median cash price · 2264 hospitals, 52 statestypically $384–$3,075 depending on the hospital

≈ 11.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)

$2,054

Cash / self-pay

$1,186

Insurer-negotiated

$382

Medicare pays

$107

$384$3,075

Median cash $1,186 · Medicare $107 · bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)

Is this a fair price?

1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,186 — about 11.1× the Medicare rate ($107). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($213).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,054 list price could save about $868 (42%).

Estimate what you’ll pay

Deductible remaining Coinsurance %

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

See negotiated rates for your insurer:

Hospital	Location	Cash	Insurer	CMS rating	ER wait	Readmit
United Memorial Medical Center	Batavia, NY	$181	$94	★ 2/5	164 min	14.7%
White Mountain Regional Medical Center	Springerville, AZ	$182	$80	—	132 min	14.9%
Fresno Surgical Hospital	Fresno, CA	$183	$142	—	—	14.4%
Gateway Regional Medical Center	Granite City, IL	$184	—	★ 2/5	142 min	15.4%
Banner Heart Hospital	Mesa, AZ	$189	$159	★ 2/5	—	14.4%
Kell West Regional Hospital	Wichita Falls, TX	$190	$182	—	121 min	14.4%
Titus Regional Medical Center	Mount Pleasant, TX	$190	$77	★ 3/5	187 min	15.2%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down	Iowa City, IA	$192	$226	★ 4/5	157 min	15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics	Iowa City, IA	$192	$226	★ 2/5	210 min	13.5%
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital	Shelbyville, TN	$193	$123	★ 4/5	123 min	13.6%
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital	Tullahoma, TN	$193	$122	★ 3/5	173 min	15.1%
Hospital Comunitario Buen Samaritano Inc	Aguadilla, PR	$197	$130	—	—	15.7%
Northwest Missississippi Regional Medical Center	Clarksdale, MS	$198	$169	★ 3/5	170 min	15.3%
Delta Health System-the Medical Center	Greenville, MS	$198	$169	★ 1/5	283 min	15.0%
Highland Hills Medical Center	Senatobia, MS	$198	$169	—	126 min	14.7%
Ochsner LSU Health Monroe	Monroe, LA	$204	$142	★ 3/5	155 min	15.2%
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center	Niagara Falls, NY	$210	$81	★ 1/5	236 min	15.3%
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus	Tucson, AZ	$212	$151	★ 4/5	275 min	14.5%
Ochsner American Legion Hospital	Jennings, LA	$213	$238	★ 2/5	104 min	15.3%
Memorial Hospital	Dumas, TX	$213	$121	—	82 min	15.5%
Hills & Dales General Hospital	Cass City, MI	$214	$839	★ 4/5	94 min	14.7%
Duncan Regional Hospital, Inc	Duncan, OK	$217	$2,299	★ 3/5	148 min	15.3%
University of Md Medical Center Midtown Campus	Baltimore, MD	$221	—	★ 3/5	246 min	14.4%
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center	Casa Grande, AZ	$223	$153	★ 2/5	175 min	16.6%
Community Memorial Hospital-Ojai	Ojai, CA	$223	$379	—	110 min	15.0%

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 head without 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: $1,186; Medicare pays $107.

Insurer	Hospitals	Negotiated median
Univera	16	$81 $34 – $129
Medicaid	369	$94 $35 – $532
Tricare / VA	428	$106 $41 – $1,182
Medicare	614	$107 $40 – $531
Amerigroup	173	$107 $62 – $450
Devoted Health	166	$107 $97 – $462
Independent Health	33	$113 $42 – $214
Highmark	136	$115 $68 – $285
Molina Healthcare	562	$117 $54 – $954
SelectHealth	48	$118 $98 – $1,658
Centene / Ambetter	824	$131 $65 – $1,138
Kaiser Permanente	231	$153 $88 – $1,805
Geisinger	73	$162 $57 – $416
Oscar Health	149	$166 $97 – $1,401
EmblemHealth	66	$167 $121 – $633
Humana	1062	$167 $81 – $1,342
AmeriHealth	227	$169 $57 – $1,158
UPMC Health Plan	97	$181 $101 – $874
UnitedHealthcare	1592	$181 $73 – $1,865
Bright Health	44	$182 $126 – $3,163
UCare	69	$184 $78 – $1,192
MVP Health Care	83	$188 $53 – $1,365
Anthem	580	$199 $56 – $1,098
Harvard Pilgrim	62	$209 $88 – $1,584
Priority Health	61	$234 $56 – $1,290
Blue Cross Blue Shield	1362	$245 $78 – $1,889
HealthPartners	277	$268 $82 – $2,120
Workers' Comp / No-Fault	158	$302 $101 – $1,746
Aetna	1477	$502 $95 – $2,333
Cigna	1196	$560 $102 – $2,594
Sanford Health Plan	78	$706 $104 – $1,972
Medica	262	$757 $100 – $2,063
Health Net	344	$764 $101 – $3,749
Security Health Plan	62	$884 $103 – $1,450
Coventry	159	$1,216 $107 – $3,174
Healthcare Highways	41	$1,281 $147 – $2,088
MultiPlan / PHCS network	887	$1,539 $179 – $4,157
AvMed	63	$1,975 $738 – $4,207

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

State	Median cash
Maryland	$136
Puerto Rico	$250
New Jersey	$433
Arizona	$489
Rhode Island	$493
Tennessee	$596

Prices by city

Prices by state

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2264 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,186, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,054, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $382, a Medicare rate of about $107. Most cash prices fall between $384 and $3,075 — 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 head without contrast cost without insurance?

The median cash (self-pay) price across 2264 US hospitals is $1,186. Most hospitals fall between $384 and $3,075. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.

What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the head without contrast?

Medicare pays about $107. 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 head without 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.

Related Imaging & Radiology

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

See more Imaging & Radiology.