MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast Cost

MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2298 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,627median cash price · 2298 hospitals, 52 statestypically $710–$7,512 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$4,759
Cash / self-pay
$2,627
Insurer-negotiated
$845
Medicare pays
$318
$710$7,512
Median cash $2,627  ·  Medicare $318  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,627 — about 8.3× the Medicare rate ($318). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($636).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $4,759 list price could save about $2,132 (45%).

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
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $395 $370 ★ 3/5 257 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $396 $275 — 130 min —
University of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center Glen Burnie, MD $399 — ★ 5/5 — —
Jefferson Lansdale Hospital Lansdale, PA $402 $327 ★ 3/5 234 min —
Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus Denville, NJ $404 $549 ★ 2/5 166 min —
Saint Michael's Medical Center Newark, NJ $404 $486 ★ 4/5 169 min —
John H Stroger Jr Hospital Chicago, IL $410 $358 ★ 2/5 293 min —
Provident Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL $410 $358 — 190 min —
St Mary's General Hospital Passaic, NJ $412 $552 ★ 3/5 182 min —
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, PA $412 $339 ★ 3/5 236 min —
Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD $416 $424 ★ 4/5 256 min —
Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital Philadelphia, PA $419 $386 ★ 3/5 268 min —
Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital East Norriton, PA $419 $375 ★ 4/5 297 min —
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $419 $525 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center Bronx, NY $423 $808 ★ 2/5 234 min —
Jacobi Medical Center Bronx, NY $423 $821 ★ 2/5 220 min —
Elmhurst Hospital Center Elmhurst, NY $423 $808 ★ 2/5 278 min —
Bronx VA Medical Center Bronx, NY $423 $808 ★ 4/5 — —
South Brooklyn Health Brooklyn, NY $423 $816 ★ 2/5 160 min —
Metropolitan Hospital Center New York, NY $423 $808 ★ 3/5 171 min —
Kings County Hospital Center Brooklyn, NY $423 $814 ★ 1/5 261 min —
Bellevue Hospital Center New York, NY $423 $814 ★ 2/5 181 min —
Queens Hospital Center Jamaica, NY $423 $810 ★ 2/5 245 min —
Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY $423 $810 ★ 2/5 144 min —
Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center Brooklyn, NY $423 $801 ★ 2/5 198 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 neck (cervical spine) with and 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: $2,627; Medicare pays $318.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$262
$91 – $391
Medicaid 336
$282
$91 – $820
Medicare 569
$340
$105 – $1,125
Independent Health 29
$342
$114 – $729
Amerigroup 172
$346
$166 – $937
Tricare / VA 417
$349
$110 – $2,585
Highmark 136
$356
$133 – $793
Devoted Health 179
$359
$324 – $1,200
Molina Healthcare 572
$369
$175 – $1,751
SelectHealth 48
$380
$282 – $2,763
Centene / Ambetter 795
$421
$195 – $2,403
AmeriHealth 232
$456
$102 – $2,140
Geisinger 73
$471
$102 – $1,622
Priority Health 58
$489
$163 – $3,286
MVP Health Care 83
$505
$142 – $3,470
Bright Health 44
$520
$394 – $5,470
Anthem 592
$549
$188 – $2,143
UPMC Health Plan 111
$563
$195 – $3,054
EmblemHealth 79
$566
$372 – $1,404
Oscar Health 173
$574
$268 – $1,832
UnitedHealthcare 1558
$616
$222 – $3,639
Harvard Pilgrim 60
$620
$250 – $3,669
Kaiser Permanente 232
$644
$323 – $4,175
UCare 72
$669
$176 – $4,249
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1300
$732
$229 – $4,411
Humana 1030
$739
$233 – $2,786
Cigna 1191
$870
$334 – $5,120
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 144
$898
$225 – $4,110
Aetna 1461
$1,081
$268 – $4,500
Health Net 335
$1,335
$302 – $7,027
HealthPartners 271
$1,342
$227 – $4,898
Medica 247
$1,470
$312 – $4,785
Security Health Plan 64
$1,935
$226 – $3,769
Healthcare Highways 38
$2,587
$458 – $4,473
Sanford Health Plan 78
$2,591
$307 – $4,664
Coventry 160
$2,844
$356 – $7,360
AvMed 67
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,879
MultiPlan / PHCS network 896
$3,681
$560 – $7,347

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
Maryland$826
New Jersey$1,020
Rhode Island$1,090
New York$1,179
Louisiana$1,295
Arkansas$1,313

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
Akash Shah, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTarrytown, NY293
Robert Young, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY242
Vesselin Miloushev, MD, PHDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY205
Bilal Mujtaba, M.DDiagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX193
Andrei Holodny, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY164
John Madewell, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX162
Kevin Berger, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyAnnapolis, MD158
Colleen Costelloe, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX148
Roman Klufas, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBoston, MA148
Michael Starc, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY147
Vaios Hatzoglou, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY145
Karem Gharzeddine, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY134

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $318. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $64 — 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 2298 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,627, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $4,759, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $845, a Medicare rate of about $318. Most cash prices fall between $710 and $7,512 — 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 neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2298 US hospitals is $2,627. Most hospitals fall between $710 and $7,512. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $318). 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 neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast?
Medicare pays about $318. 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 neck (cervical spine) with and 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.

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