MRI of the brain Cost by Hospital

MRI of the brain is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2280 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,199median cash price · 2280 hospitals, 52 statestypically $627–$6,261 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,895
Cash / self-pay
$2,199
Insurer-negotiated
$815
Medicare pays
$269
$627$6,261
Median cash $2,199  ·  Medicare $269  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,199 — about 8.2× the Medicare rate ($269). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($538).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,895 list price could save about $1,696 (44%).

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
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson Carson City, MI $338 $356 ★ 4/5 95 min 15.2%
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $339 $362 ★ 3/5 252 min 15.4%
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%
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $346 $237 ★ 2/5 108 min 16.3%
Advanced Surgical Hospital Washington, PA $346 $346 — — 14.5%
St Joseph Medical Center Kansas City, MO $347 $348 ★ 3/5 126 min 14.9%
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 $370 ★ 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 $400 ★ 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 $370 ★ 4/5 163 min 14.6%
University of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center Glen Burnie, MD $350 — ★ 5/5 — 14.5%
Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA $356 $357 ★ 2/5 182 min 15.5%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $357 $868 ★ 1/5 152 min 15.0%
McLean Hospital Corporation Belmont, MA $358 $375 — — —
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Camp Hill, PA $358 $351 ★ 3/5 250 min 15.3%
Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD $365 $373 ★ 4/5 254 min 13.3%
Monroe Hospital Bloomington, IN $367 $487 ★ 4/5 105 min 15.1%
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $368 $770 ★ 4/5 183 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 MRI of the brain

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: $2,199; Medicare pays $269.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$184
$84 – $364
Medicaid 345
$260
$64 – $779
Independent Health 30
$272
$75 – $702
Highmark 131
$305
$132 – $760
Medicare 584
$313
$105 – $1,103
Amerigroup 172
$320
$147 – $871
Tricare / VA 413
$325
$125 – $1,951
Devoted Health 162
$342
$230 – $1,349
Molina Healthcare 560
$346
$113 – $1,421
Priority Health 59
$348
$101 – $2,602
SelectHealth 47
$377
$225 – $2,315
Centene / Ambetter 793
$388
$157 – $2,075
Anthem 566
$413
$153 – $1,835
UCare 70
$435
$137 – $3,228
AmeriHealth 221
$444
$102 – $2,046
Geisinger 70
$471
$102 – $1,655
Oscar Health 145
$472
$203 – $2,231
Bright Health 44
$490
$285 – $4,230
Humana 1031
$498
$199 – $2,518
UnitedHealthcare 1537
$499
$184 – $3,136
UPMC Health Plan 94
$499
$232 – $2,499
MVP Health Care 83
$502
$111 – $2,427
EmblemHealth 65
$505
$298 – $1,404
Harvard Pilgrim 63
$541
$186 – $3,160
Kaiser Permanente 231
$583
$243 – $3,558
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1309
$608
$179 – $3,540
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 150
$773
$189 – $3,445
Cigna 1160
$870
$272 – $4,531
HealthPartners 271
$954
$163 – $3,976
Aetna 1435
$1,078
$226 – $3,924
Medica 250
$1,215
$233 – $4,072
Health Net 338
$1,335
$267 – $5,920
Security Health Plan 62
$1,473
$153 – $3,661
Sanford Health Plan 77
$1,707
$210 – $3,593
Healthcare Highways 39
$1,834
$590 – $3,567
Coventry 156
$2,367
$263 – $5,774
AvMed 63
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,640
MultiPlan / PHCS network 874
$3,150
$533 – $6,408

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
New Jersey$760
Maryland$803
Arkansas$1,076
Alabama$1,087
Arizona$1,152

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXBaltimore, MDDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYSacramento, CABrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CABaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCMilwaukee, WINashville, TNOklahoma City, OKOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOBirmingham, ALBoston, MACincinnati, OHEl Paso, TX

Prices by state

CaliforniaTexasOhioFloridaIllinoisNew YorkWisconsinPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeMissouriIowaColoradoNebraskaOklahomaKentuckyKansasIndianaVirginiaArkansasNew JerseyWashingtonMarylandSouth DakotaArizonaMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaMaineSouth CarolinaAlabamaNorth DakotaOregonIdahoMontanaNew HampshireUtahConnecticutNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandHawaiiAlaskaWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2280 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,199, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,895, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $815, a Medicare rate of about $269. Most cash prices fall between $627 and $6,261 — 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 brain cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2280 US hospitals is $2,199. Most hospitals fall between $627 and $6,261. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the brain?
Medicare pays about $269. 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 brain 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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