MRI of the ankle Cost by Hospital

MRI of the ankle is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2252 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,136median cash price · 2252 hospitals, 52 statestypically $640–$6,177 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,637
Cash / self-pay
$2,136
Insurer-negotiated
$828
Medicare pays
$261
$640$6,177
Median cash $2,136  ·  Medicare $261  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,136 — about 8.2× 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 $3,637 list price could save about $1,500 (41%).

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
Pih Health Downey Hospital Downey, CA $324 $721 ★ 4/5 240 min 16.5%
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $537 285 min 15.8%
Saint John Hospital Leavenworth, KS $328 $329 ★ 3/5 124 min 15.5%
Providence Medical Center Kansas City, KS $328 $347 ★ 3/5 123 min 14.7%
East Liverpool City Hospital East Liverpool, OH $328 $328 ★ 3/5 138 min 15.7%
Coshocton Regional Medical Center Coshocton, OH $328 $336 ★ 4/5 149 min 15.0%
Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA $343 $353 ★ 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 $366 ★ 3/5 252 min 15.4%
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $346 $237 ★ 2/5 108 min 16.3%
Advanced Surgical Hospital Washington, PA $346 $346 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 $368 ★ 2/5 154 min 14.6%
Knapp Medical Center Weslaco, TX $348 $349 ★ 5/5 141 min 14.4%
Mission Regional Medical Center Mission, TX $348 $449 ★ 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 $349 ★ 3/5 168 min 14.8%
Harlingen Medical Center Harlingen, TX $348 $368 ★ 4/5 163 min 14.6%
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $3,804 ★ 5/5 14.3%
Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA $356 $357 ★ 2/5 182 min 15.5%
St Joseph's Medical Center Yonkers, NY $363 $505 ★ 1/5 202 min 15.2%
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $366 $487 ★ 2/5 104 min 15.3%

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 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

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: $2,136; Medicare pays $261.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$220
$76 – $413
Highmark 128
$320
$165 – $1,055
Medicaid 337
$330
$71 – $1,734
Medicare 571
$332
$124 – $1,148
Devoted Health 153
$339
$224 – $1,253
Amerigroup 169
$348
$161 – $1,045
Tricare / VA 398
$348
$167 – $2,894
Molina Healthcare 558
$354
$124 – $1,399
Independent Health 29
$360
$93 – $915
Centene / Ambetter 776
$400
$170 – $1,627
Priority Health 59
$401
$111 – $2,814
Anthem 540
$454
$163 – $2,103
Oscar Health 157
$489
$226 – $2,256
UCare 70
$503
$134 – $3,195
EmblemHealth 63
$505
$298 – $1,632
Geisinger 67
$511
$117 – $1,828
Bright Health 40
$524
$285 – $5,880
UnitedHealthcare 1512
$555
$204 – $3,417
AmeriHealth 225
$559
$158 – $1,737
SelectHealth 48
$586
$236 – $2,660
MVP Health Care 83
$606
$110 – $3,588
Harvard Pilgrim 58
$611
$186 – $3,377
UPMC Health Plan 92
$644
$232 – $2,093
Humana 981
$685
$219 – $2,642
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1269
$769
$222 – $3,502
Kaiser Permanente 195
$784
$250 – $4,068
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 147
$880
$220 – $4,691
HealthPartners 263
$1,135
$173 – $4,635
Aetna 1405
$1,147
$233 – $4,272
Cigna 1133
$1,248
$313 – $5,462
Medica 246
$1,350
$202 – $3,804
Health Net 309
$1,502
$265 – $5,790
Security Health Plan 64
$1,634
$138 – $3,663
Sanford Health Plan 73
$1,707
$222 – $3,585
Coventry 156
$1,851
$343 – $5,823
Healthcare Highways 38
$2,080
$654 – $3,674
AvMed 65
$3,110
$1,056 – $3,536
MultiPlan / PHCS network 839
$3,247
$713 – $7,863

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$400
Rhode Island$657
Arkansas$1,029
Tennessee$1,041
Maryland$1,059
New Jersey$1,102

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
Robert Lefkowitz, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY152
Jonathan Landa, DODiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY119
James Choi, MDDiagnostic RadiologyClive, IA106
Rajendra Kumar, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX101
Jesse Davila, MDDiagnostic RadiologyJacksonville, FL92
Raul Valenzuela Perez, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX89
Stephen Vossler, MDDiagnostic RadiologyGrand Rapids, MI89
Jamie Caracciolo, MD, MBADiagnostic RadiologyTampa, FL89
Mohammad Ali El Amine, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew Haven, CT82
Sinchun Hwang, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY80
Emmanuel Reyes-Salavarria, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyGrand Rapids, MI79
Jenifer Pitman, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD78

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the ankle. 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 2252 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,136, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,637, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $828, a Medicare rate of about $261. Most cash prices fall between $640 and $6,177 — 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 cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2252 US hospitals is $2,136. Most hospitals fall between $640 and $6,177. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle?
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?
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 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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