MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast Cost

MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2295 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,922median cash price · 2295 hospitals, 52 statestypically $548–$5,265 depending on the hospital
≈ 10.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,381
Cash / self-pay
$1,922
Insurer-negotiated
$612
Medicare pays
$191
$548$5,265
Median cash $1,922  ·  Medicare $191  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,922 — 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 $3,381 list price could save about $1,459 (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
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Camp Hill, PA $289 $309 ★ 3/5 250 min 15.3%
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%

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 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: $1,922; Medicare pays $191.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$148
$59 – $232
Medicaid 348
$194
$59 – $585
Independent Health 29
$204
$74 – $467
Amerigroup 173
$206
$107 – $664
Highmark 130
$227
$111 – $549
Medicare 583
$234
$68 – $819
Tricare / VA 414
$235
$71 – $1,847
Devoted Health 175
$243
$218 – $809
SelectHealth 49
$243
$162 – $2,007
Molina Healthcare 572
$246
$99 – $1,273
Centene / Ambetter 788
$269
$112 – $1,795
Bright Health 44
$344
$240 – $3,788
Anthem 581
$352
$113 – $1,643
UnitedHealthcare 1558
$376
$135 – $2,749
Harvard Pilgrim 63
$376
$153 – $2,555
Oscar Health 159
$378
$165 – $1,404
EmblemHealth 64
$387
$286 – $1,404
AmeriHealth 233
$390
$102 – $1,439
UPMC Health Plan 106
$391
$207 – $1,826
Kaiser Permanente 229
$414
$198 – $2,897
Priority Health 59
$415
$105 – $2,200
MVP Health Care 82
$428
$92 – $2,903
UCare 73
$447
$118 – $3,086
Geisinger 70
$471
$102 – $998
Humana 1040
$479
$153 – $2,187
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1321
$486
$137 – $2,880
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 152
$622
$156 – $3,293
Cigna 1178
$683
$224 – $3,676
Aetna 1448
$779
$164 – $3,308
HealthPartners 276
$1,068
$145 – $3,369
Health Net 338
$1,149
$193 – $5,697
Medica 251
$1,215
$189 – $3,584
Security Health Plan 65
$1,421
$121 – $3,935
Healthcare Highways 38
$1,614
$431 – $3,135
Sanford Health Plan 76
$1,619
$186 – $3,278
Coventry 159
$2,228
$225 – $4,677
MultiPlan / PHCS network 888
$2,591
$358 – $5,107
AvMed 65
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,586

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
Maryland$469
New Jersey$573
Rhode Island$676
Arizona$833
Arkansas$887

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
Jason Sinner, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBurbank, CA2,223
Mark Armstrong, MDDiagnostic RadiologyHudson, OH1,195
John Melnick, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY911
Barry Sadegi, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyScottsdale, AZ867
Michael Shriver, MDDiagnostic RadiologyCincinnati, OH758
Matthew Dobbs, MDDiagnostic RadiologyAuburn, AL690
David Kuo, DODiagnostic RadiologyLas Vegas, NV640
Michelle Rotblat-Operman, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyLindenhurst, NY633
Bradley Foerster, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologySilver Spring, MD612
Mark Timken, MDDiagnostic RadiologyGainesville, FL584
Eliyahu Engelsohn, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyLindenhurst, NY569
Michael Murphy, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyOklahoma City, OK569

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

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

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $191. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $38 — 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 2295 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,922, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,381, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $612, a Medicare rate of about $191. Most cash prices fall between $548 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?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2295 US hospitals is $1,922. Most hospitals fall between $548 and $5,265. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $191). 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) without contrast?
Medicare pays about $191. 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) 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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