MRI of the chest with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRI of the chest with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1609 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,092median cash price · 1609 hospitals, 52 statestypically $709–$6,294 depending on the hospital
≈ 5.6× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,932
Cash / self-pay
$2,092
Insurer-negotiated
$1,039
Medicare pays
$371
$709$6,294
Median cash $2,092  ·  Medicare $371  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,092 — about 5.6× the Medicare rate ($371). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($743).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,932 list price could save about $1,840 (47%).

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
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $314 $944 ★ 3/5 227 min 14.3%
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Sun City West, AZ $316 $926 ★ 3/5 239 min 15.1%
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $512 — 285 min 15.8%
Gordon Memorial Hospital District Gordon, NE $333 $313 — 105 min 15.4%
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $334 $232 — 130 min 14.6%
St Luke Community Hospital Ronan, MT $334 $404 — 110 min 15.1%
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $340 $1,326 ★ 4/5 174 min 16.3%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $347 $421 ★ 4/5 157 min 15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $347 $421 ★ 2/5 210 min 13.5%
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $359 $726 — — —
Banner Gateway Medical Center Gilbert, AZ $361 $926 ★ 3/5 223 min 15.3%
Banner Baywood Medical Center Mesa, AZ $378 $961 ★ 2/5 266 min 13.9%
Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY $387 $525 ★ 4/5 109 min 14.6%
Banner Ironwood Medical Center Queen Creek, AZ $395 $944 ★ 3/5 220 min 15.3%
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $400 $926 ★ 4/5 275 min 14.5%
Banner Estrella Medical Center Phoenix, AZ $404 $961 ★ 3/5 243 min 13.9%
Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix Phoenix, AZ $410 $884 ★ 3/5 265 min 14.9%
Community Hospital Torrington, WY $410 $884 ★ 2/5 120 min 14.8%
Physicians Care Surgical Hospital Royersford, PA $411 $554 — — 14.7%
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Casa Grande, AZ $423 $926 ★ 2/5 175 min 16.6%
Doctor's Center De San Juan Santurce, PR $425 $650 — — 15.5%
Doctors' Center Bayamon Bayamon, PR $425 $650 — — 16.6%
Doctors' Center Hospital, Inc Manati, PR $425 $650 ★ 1/5 — 16.3%
Doctors Center Hospital Carolina Llc Carolina, PR $425 $650 — 315 min 15.8%
Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $438 $788 ★ 4/5 153 min 15.8%

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 chest with 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: $2,092; Medicare pays $371.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 11
$311
$67 – $451
Amerigroup 137
$416
$385 – $980
Medicaid 200
$420
$88 – $2,360
Highmark 68
$450
$300 – $1,514
Priority Health 29
$465
$119 – $2,366
Anthem 371
$554
$196 – $2,034
Geisinger 49
$628
$117 – $2,919
AmeriHealth 159
$648
$84 – $1,683
SelectHealth 34
$655
$519 – $1,963
Molina Healthcare 378
$742
$222 – $1,660
Devoted Health 137
$766
$727 – $893
Tricare / VA 243
$773
$375 – $2,310
Medicare 341
$786
$376 – $1,054
UCare 48
$799
$133 – $2,907
HealthPartners 140
$802
$130 – $3,294
Centene / Ambetter 558
$827
$268 – $1,532
UPMC Health Plan 58
$850
$432 – $4,296
Harvard Pilgrim 33
$875
$216 – $4,123
Independent Health 11
$885
$505 – $1,083
UnitedHealthcare 1026
$921
$320 – $2,506
Medica 119
$962
$235 – $3,581
Humana 727
$997
$350 – $1,995
MVP Health Care 42
$1,001
$295 – $3,691
Blue Cross Blue Shield 881
$1,008
$345 – $4,440
Oscar Health 105
$1,024
$154 – $1,735
Cigna 773
$1,059
$436 – $3,761
Kaiser Permanente 172
$1,107
$420 – $3,928
Aetna 1008
$1,145
$316 – $3,573
EmblemHealth 48
$1,174
$505 – $1,555
Bright Health 34
$1,196
$1,029 – $4,215
Security Health Plan 34
$1,568
$76 – $4,107
Healthcare Highways 26
$1,619
$794 – $3,490
Sanford Health Plan 44
$1,673
$290 – $3,562
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 81
$1,892
$560 – $4,203
Health Net 209
$1,919
$519 – $8,809
Coventry 94
$2,555
$457 – $5,889
AvMed 54
$3,110
$1,088 – $3,533
MultiPlan / PHCS network 542
$3,160
$744 – $6,704

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
Arizona$547
Tennessee$637
Rhode Island$877
Alabama$954
Kentucky$963

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYBrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXSacramento, CACharlotte, NCBaltimore, MDBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCincinnati, OHLos Angeles, CAMilwaukee, WINashville, TNRochester, NYSan Antonio, TXAnaheim, CAArlington, TXAurora, COBirmingham, ALBoston, MA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaFloridaOhioIllinoisNew YorkPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaTennesseeWisconsinGeorgiaColoradoMichiganLouisianaNew JerseyIndianaNebraskaMissouriKansasIowaArizonaMaineMarylandOklahomaWashingtonKentuckyVirginiaAlabamaMississippiSouth CarolinaArkansasWest VirginiaMassachusettsUtahNorth DakotaNevadaMontanaNew HampshireOregonPuerto RicoWyomingSouth DakotaIdahoDelawareNew MexicoVermontWashington DCRhode Island

About these prices

Based on prices published by 1609 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,092, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,932, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $1,039, a Medicare rate of about $371. Most cash prices fall between $709 and $6,294 — 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 chest with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1609 US hospitals is $2,092. Most hospitals fall between $709 and $6,294. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the chest with contrast?
Medicare pays about $371. 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 chest with 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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