MRI of the ankle with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRI of the ankle with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1879 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,040median cash price · 1879 hospitals, 52 statestypically $619–$6,476 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.8× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,560
Cash / self-pay
$2,040
Insurer-negotiated
$800
Medicare pays
$261
$619$6,476
Median cash $2,040  ·  Medicare $261  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,040 — 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 $3,560 list price could save about $1,521 (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 ★ 3/5 160 min 15.7%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $311 $547 ★ 4/5 183 min 15.0%
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $532 285 min 15.8%
Saint John Hospital Leavenworth, KS $328 $345 ★ 3/5 124 min 15.5%
Providence Medical Center Kansas City, KS $328 $420 ★ 3/5 123 min 14.7%
East Liverpool City Hospital East Liverpool, OH $328 $345 ★ 3/5 138 min 15.7%
Coshocton Regional Medical Center Coshocton, OH $328 $484 ★ 4/5 149 min 15.0%
Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA $343 $360 ★ 3/5 154 min 15.2%
Central Maine Medical Center Lewiston, ME $344 $344 ★ 4/5 239 min 14.5%
Lake Huron Medical Center Port Huron, MI $345 $346 ★ 4/5 169 min 14.6%
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $346 $378 ★ 3/5 252 min 15.4%
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $346 $346 ★ 2/5 108 min 16.3%
Advanced Surgical Hospital Washington, PA $346 $381 14.5%
Southern Regional Medical Center Riverdale, GA $348 $348 ★ 1/5 260 min 15.5%
Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Inc Newnan, GA $348 $348 ★ 5/5 15.7%
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches, LA $348 $348 ★ 4/5 160 min 15.4%
Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc Harlingen, TX $348 $453 ★ 2/5 154 min 14.6%
Knapp Medical Center Weslaco, TX $348 $366 ★ 5/5 141 min 14.4%
Mission Regional Medical Center Mission, TX $348 $507 ★ 4/5 151 min 15.2%
Dallas Medical Center Dallas, TX $348 $349 ★ 3/5 133 min 13.7%
Dallas Regional Medical Center Mesquite, TX $348 $366 ★ 3/5 168 min 14.8%
Harlingen Medical Center Harlingen, TX $348 $453 ★ 4/5 163 min 14.6%
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $3,521 ★ 5/5 14.3%
Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA $356 $374 ★ 2/5 182 min 15.5%
McLaren Lapeer Region Lapeer, MI $364 $89 ★ 2/5 186 min 14.6%

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 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: $2,040; Medicare pays $261.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 12
$220
$63 – $318
Highmark 86
$335
$193 – $991
Amerigroup 147
$342
$215 – $1,022
Devoted Health 141
$346
$261 – $1,148
Priority Health 40
$348
$111 – $2,709
Medicare 435
$362
$167 – $1,175
Molina Healthcare 462
$368
$86 – $1,556
Tricare / VA 310
$392
$247 – $3,614
Anthem 440
$410
$167 – $1,941
Medicaid 268
$414
$167 – $4,272
Independent Health 20
$433
$167 – $766
Centene / Ambetter 644
$464
$201 – $1,536
UCare 58
$490
$140 – $3,103
AmeriHealth 192
$533
$166 – $1,466
EmblemHealth 55
$566
$414 – $1,096
Oscar Health 130
$574
$235 – $2,346
UnitedHealthcare 1211
$603
$246 – $3,267
Geisinger 56
$612
$111 – $1,669
Bright Health 35
$616
$422 – $6,021
Harvard Pilgrim 44
$630
$187 – $3,722
SelectHealth 40
$642
$334 – $3,119
Humana 825
$685
$248 – $2,405
MVP Health Care 57
$815
$199 – $4,007
HealthPartners 164
$865
$167 – $3,619
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1016
$899
$259 – $3,753
Kaiser Permanente 165
$947
$324 – $4,272
UPMC Health Plan 68
$1,090
$340 – $2,348
Aetna 1181
$1,200
$262 – $4,069
Medica 160
$1,231
$225 – $3,333
Cigna 940
$1,268
$353 – $5,454
Sanford Health Plan 51
$1,511
$257 – $3,589
Coventry 112
$1,643
$358 – $5,786
Security Health Plan 50
$1,661
$71 – $3,364
Health Net 244
$1,710
$259 – $5,671
Healthcare Highways 33
$2,050
$637 – $3,370
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 119
$2,780
$560 – $4,610
AvMed 62
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,533
MultiPlan / PHCS network 682
$3,332
$882 – $7,634

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
Puerto Rico$425
Rhode Island$568
Arizona$661
Louisiana$935
Tennessee$937
Maryland$1,006

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 1879 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,040, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,560, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $800, a Medicare rate of about $261. Most cash prices fall between $619 and $6,476 — 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 1879 US hospitals is $2,040. Most hospitals fall between $619 and $6,476. 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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