MRI of the ankle with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRI of the ankle with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1898 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,042median cash price · 1898 hospitals, 52 statestypically $605–$6,449 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.8× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,557
Cash / self-pay
$2,042
Insurer-negotiated
$793
Medicare pays
$261
$605$6,449
Median cash $2,042  ·  Medicare $261  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,042 — about 7.8× the Medicare rate ($261). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($522).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,557 list price could save about $1,515 (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
Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL $311 $311 ★ 3/5 155 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $311 $547 ★ 4/5 182 min —
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $532 — 279 min —
Saint John Hospital Leavenworth, KS $328 $345 ★ 3/5 126 min —
Providence Medical Center Kansas City, KS $328 $420 ★ 3/5 122 min —
East Liverpool City Hospital East Liverpool, OH $328 $345 ★ 3/5 132 min —
Coshocton Regional Medical Center Coshocton, OH $328 $484 ★ 4/5 149 min —
Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA $343 $360 ★ 3/5 150 min —
Central Maine Medical Center Lewiston, ME $344 $344 ★ 4/5 253 min —
Lake Huron Medical Center Port Huron, MI $345 $346 ★ 4/5 168 min —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $346 $378 ★ 3/5 257 min —
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $346 $346 ★ 2/5 114 min —
Advanced Surgical Hospital Washington, PA $346 $381 — — —
Southern Regional Medical Center Riverdale, GA $348 $348 ★ 1/5 265 min —
Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Inc Newnan, GA $348 $348 ★ 5/5 — —
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches, LA $348 $348 ★ 4/5 158 min —
Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc Harlingen, TX $348 $453 ★ 2/5 145 min —
Knapp Medical Center Weslaco, TX $348 $366 ★ 5/5 133 min —
Mission Regional Medical Center Mission, TX $348 $507 ★ 4/5 152 min —
Dallas Medical Center Dallas, TX $348 $349 ★ 3/5 137 min —
Dallas Regional Medical Center Mesquite, TX $348 $366 ★ 3/5 166 min —
Harlingen Medical Center Harlingen, TX $348 $453 ★ 4/5 156 min —
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $3,521 ★ 5/5 — —
Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA $356 $374 ★ 2/5 186 min —
McLaren Lapeer Region Lapeer, MI $364 $89 ★ 2/5 186 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 MRI of the ankle 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: $2,042; Medicare pays $261.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 12
$220
$63 – $318
Highmark 91
$335
$188 – $1,025
Amerigroup 148
$342
$215 – $1,013
Devoted Health 145
$346
$261 – $1,127
Priority Health 39
$348
$111 – $2,709
Medicare 440
$362
$169 – $1,175
Molina Healthcare 465
$367
$86 – $1,549
Tricare / VA 315
$392
$247 – $3,551
Medicaid 272
$414
$167 – $4,272
Independent Health 20
$433
$167 – $766
Anthem 457
$447
$172 – $1,838
Centene / Ambetter 662
$464
$212 – $1,536
UCare 59
$490
$140 – $3,103
AmeriHealth 195
$533
$167 – $1,466
EmblemHealth 70
$566
$305 – $1,099
Oscar Health 145
$600
$247 – $2,347
UnitedHealthcare 1236
$611
$246 – $3,267
Geisinger 58
$612
$119 – $1,644
Bright Health 35
$616
$422 – $6,021
Harvard Pilgrim 44
$630
$187 – $3,722
SelectHealth 40
$642
$334 – $3,119
Humana 836
$685
$248 – $2,391
MVP Health Care 58
$813
$199 – $4,007
HealthPartners 166
$865
$167 – $3,619
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1023
$906
$259 – $3,691
UPMC Health Plan 70
$936
$340 – $2,313
Kaiser Permanente 167
$960
$324 – $4,272
Aetna 1208
$1,200
$261 – $4,069
Medica 161
$1,258
$225 – $3,337
Cigna 964
$1,269
$351 – $5,454
Sanford Health Plan 52
$1,511
$256 – $3,589
Coventry 116
$1,643
$354 – $5,778
Security Health Plan 50
$1,661
$71 – $3,364
Health Net 245
$1,678
$259 – $5,671
Healthcare Highways 33
$2,050
$637 – $3,370
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 120
$2,732
$560 – $4,610
AvMed 64
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,533
MultiPlan / PHCS network 696
$3,331
$879 – $7,635

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
Rhode Island$568
Arizona$661
Tennessee$858
Louisiana$935
Maryland$1,006
Hawaii$1,126

Prices by city

Prices by state

Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the ankle with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $261. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $52 — 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 1898 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,042, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,557, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $793, a Medicare rate of about $261. Most cash prices fall between $605 and $6,449 — 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 MRI of the ankle with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1898 US hospitals is $2,042. Most hospitals fall between $605 and $6,449. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $261). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the ankle with contrast?
Medicare pays about $261. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do MRI of the ankle 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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