MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2253 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $1,927 — about 10.1× the Medicare rate ($191). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($381).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,392 list price could save about $1,465 (43%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville Memorial Hospital | Huntsville, TX | $289 | $350 | ★ 2/5 | 190 min | 15.4% |
| Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery | Nashville, TN | $298 | $206 | — | — | 14.0% |
| Sisters of Charity Hospital | Buffalo, NY | $300 | $159 | ★ 3/5 | 197 min | 15.3% |
| Mount St. Mary's Hospital & Health Center | Lewiston, NY | $300 | $156 | ★ 2/5 | 163 min | 15.3% |
| University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics | Chicago, IL | $301 | $243 | ★ 4/5 | 319 min | 15.9% |
| Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center | Sun City West, AZ | $301 | $356 | ★ 3/5 | 239 min | 15.1% |
| Banner Baywood Medical Center | Mesa, AZ | $304 | $381 | ★ 2/5 | 266 min | 13.9% |
| Paradise Valley Hospital | National City, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 202 min | 16.0% |
| Saint Francis Medical Center | Lynwood, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 250 min | 14.9% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center | Encino, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 135 min | 15.6% |
| Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center | Garden Grove, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 138 min | 16.6% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center | Anaheim, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 196 min | 16.6% |
| Huntington Beach Hospital | Huntington Beach, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 1/5 | 173 min | 14.8% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital | La Palma, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 214 min | 16.5% |
| Chino Valley Medical Center | Chino, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 4/5 | 173 min | 16.1% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital | San Dimas, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 155 min | 15.5% |
| Desert Valley Hospital | Victorville, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 173 min | 15.8% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital | Sherman Oaks, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 153 min | 15.8% |
| Montclair Hospital Medical Center | Montclair, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 3/5 | 151 min | 15.3% |
| Shasta Regional Medical Center | Redding, CA | $305 | $305 | ★ 2/5 | 148 min | 15.9% |
| Unity Hospital | Rochester, NY | $305 | $188 | ★ 2/5 | 294 min | 15.3% |
| Unity Specialty Hospital | Rochester, NY | $305 | $188 | — | — | — |
| Banner Estrella Medical Center | Phoenix, AZ | $308 | $361 | ★ 3/5 | 243 min | 13.9% |
| Jefferson Stratford Hospital | Stratford, NJ | $309 | $246 | ★ 2/5 | 235 min | 17.5% |
| Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical | Montclair, NJ | $312 | $3,599 | ★ 4/5 | 234 min | 15.1% |
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 neck (cervical spine) 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: $1,927; Medicare pays $191.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$59 – $232 |
| Medicaid | 343 |
$59 – $585 |
| Independent Health | 28 |
$74 – $467 |
| Amerigroup | 170 |
$107 – $681 |
| Highmark | 130 |
$111 – $549 |
| Medicare | 581 |
$68 – $816 |
| Tricare / VA | 409 |
$72 – $1,828 |
| SelectHealth | 49 |
$162 – $2,007 |
| Devoted Health | 162 |
$221 – $834 |
| Molina Healthcare | 547 |
$99 – $1,273 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 782 |
$112 – $1,844 |
| Bright Health | 44 |
$240 – $3,788 |
| Anthem | 556 |
$111 – $1,669 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 63 |
$153 – $2,555 |
| Oscar Health | 145 |
$153 – $1,735 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1525 |
$138 – $2,749 |
| EmblemHealth | 64 |
$286 – $1,404 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 94 |
$216 – $1,826 |
| AmeriHealth | 220 |
$102 – $1,463 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 228 |
$198 – $2,897 |
| Priority Health | 59 |
$105 – $2,200 |
| UCare | 69 |
$115 – $3,086 |
| MVP Health Care | 82 |
$92 – $2,903 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$102 – $998 |
| Humana | 1012 |
$154 – $2,193 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1306 |
$141 – $2,890 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 152 |
$156 – $3,293 |
| Cigna | 1147 |
$224 – $3,737 |
| Aetna | 1417 |
$167 – $3,341 |
| HealthPartners | 268 |
$145 – $3,384 |
| Health Net | 336 |
$193 – $5,722 |
| Medica | 248 |
$189 – $3,624 |
| Security Health Plan | 62 |
$121 – $3,935 |
| Healthcare Highways | 38 |
$431 – $3,135 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 76 |
$186 – $3,278 |
| Coventry | 155 |
$225 – $4,682 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 862 |
$352 – $5,163 |
| AvMed | 63 |
$1,080 – $3,598 |
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
| State | Median cash |
|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | $400 |
| Maryland | $469 |
| New Jersey | $573 |
| Rhode Island | $676 |
| Arizona | $823 |
| Arkansas | $887 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2253 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,927, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,392, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $613, a Medicare rate of about $191. Most cash prices fall between $537 and $5,265 — 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) without contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast?
Why do MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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