MRI of the chest with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRI of the chest with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1670 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,142median cash price · 1670 hospitals, 52 statestypically $740–$6,294 depending on the hospital
≈ 5.8× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,950
Cash / self-pay
$2,142
Insurer-negotiated
$1,029
Medicare pays
$371
$740$6,294
Median cash $2,142  ·  Medicare $371  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,142 — about 5.8× 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 $3,950 list price could save about $1,808 (46%).

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
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $512 — 279 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $334 $232 — 130 min —
St Luke Community Hospital Ronan, MT $334 $404 — 109 min —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $340 $1,326 ★ 4/5 174 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $347 $421 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $347 $421 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $2,750 ★ 5/5 — —
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $359 $726 — — —
Banner Gateway Medical Center Gilbert, AZ $361 $926 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Banner Baywood Medical Center Mesa, AZ $378 $961 ★ 2/5 259 min —
Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY $387 $525 ★ 4/5 111 min —
Banner Ironwood Medical Center Queen Creek, AZ $395 $944 ★ 3/5 221 min —
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $400 $926 ★ 4/5 260 min —
Banner Estrella Medical Center Phoenix, AZ $404 $961 ★ 3/5 236 min —
Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix Phoenix, AZ $410 $884 ★ 3/5 266 min —
Community Hospital Torrington, WY $410 $884 ★ 2/5 120 min —
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Casa Grande, AZ $423 $926 ★ 2/5 174 min —
Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $438 $788 ★ 4/5 154 min —
Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $438 $788 ★ 5/5 140 min —
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center Glendale, AZ $440 $884 ★ 4/5 234 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $444 $706 ★ 2/5 316 min —
St Joseph's Hospital-Savannah Savannah, GA $449 $960 ★ 2/5 203 min —
Banner Ocotillo Medical Center Chandler, AZ $465 $926 ★ 3/5 180 min —
Banner-University Medical Center Tucson Campus Tucson, AZ $468 $885 ★ 3/5 311 min —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $478 $723 ★ 2/5 203 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 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: $2,142; Medicare pays $371.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 11
$311
$67 – $451
Amerigroup 141
$416
$385 – $980
Medicaid 209
$422
$143 – $2,360
Highmark 73
$450
$284 – $1,550
Priority Health 28
$465
$119 – $2,366
AmeriHealth 175
$648
$84 – $1,699
SelectHealth 34
$655
$519 – $1,963
Anthem 412
$667
$196 – $2,034
Geisinger 51
$679
$117 – $2,937
Molina Healthcare 404
$732
$190 – $1,660
Devoted Health 154
$766
$722 – $889
Tricare / VA 250
$774
$372 – $2,310
Medicare 349
$786
$376 – $1,056
UCare 50
$799
$136 – $2,850
HealthPartners 146
$802
$130 – $3,285
Centene / Ambetter 582
$827
$267 – $1,532
UPMC Health Plan 71
$850
$412 – $4,296
Harvard Pilgrim 33
$875
$216 – $4,098
UnitedHealthcare 1082
$921
$320 – $2,508
Independent Health 12
$935
$505 – $1,003
Medica 122
$986
$235 – $3,581
Humana 762
$997
$346 – $1,988
MVP Health Care 43
$1,004
$300 – $3,533
Blue Cross Blue Shield 901
$1,008
$341 – $4,310
EmblemHealth 63
$1,018
$505 – $1,425
Cigna 824
$1,059
$431 – $3,761
Kaiser Permanente 175
$1,107
$422 – $3,917
Aetna 1062
$1,125
$307 – $3,652
Bright Health 34
$1,196
$1,029 – $4,215
Oscar Health 131
$1,235
$183 – $1,967
Security Health Plan 35
$1,568
$76 – $4,091
Healthcare Highways 26
$1,619
$794 – $3,490
Sanford Health Plan 45
$1,673
$290 – $3,562
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 82
$1,848
$560 – $4,177
Health Net 212
$1,875
$507 – $8,809
Coventry 100
$2,420
$457 – $5,809
AvMed 58
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,533
MultiPlan / PHCS network 578
$3,115
$730 – $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
Arizona$551
Tennessee$637
Rhode Island$877
Alabama$954
Kentucky$963
Arkansas$1,006

Prices by city

Prices by state

Does Medicare cover MRI of the chest with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the chest with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $371. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $74 — 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 1670 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,142, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,950, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $1,029, a Medicare rate of about $371. Most cash prices fall between $740 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 1670 US hospitals is $2,142. Most hospitals fall between $740 and $6,294. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the chest with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $371). 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 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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