MRI of the chest without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2076 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $2,543 — about 5.5× the Medicare rate ($466). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($932).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $4,506 list price could save about $1,962 (44%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landmark Medical Center | Woonsocket, RI | $390 | $394 | ★ 2/5 | 229 min | 17.2% |
| Bassett Healthcare | Cooperstown, NY | $390 | $172 | ★ 2/5 | 199 min | 15.6% |
| Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Llc | Hope, AR | $391 | $978 | — | 98 min | 14.7% |
| Southwest Regional Medical Center Llc | Hope, AR | $391 | $978 | — | — | — |
| Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital | Slidell, LA | $392 | $493 | — | — | 14.4% |
| Physicians Care Surgical Hospital | Royersford, PA | $393 | $531 | — | — | 14.7% |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City, IA | $400 | $485 | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | 15.0% |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City, IA | $400 | $485 | ★ 2/5 | 210 min | 13.5% |
| Jefferson Lansdale Hospital | Lansdale, PA | $402 | $327 | ★ 3/5 | 216 min | 15.9% |
| Mount Desert Island Hospital | Bar Harbor, ME | $402 | $279 | — | 130 min | 14.6% |
| Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus | Denville, NJ | $404 | $549 | ★ 2/5 | 164 min | 16.2% |
| Saint Michael's Medical Center | Newark, NJ | $404 | $486 | ★ 4/5 | 176 min | 16.0% |
| John H Stroger Jr Hospital | Chicago, IL | $409 | $412 | ★ 2/5 | 280 min | 15.0% |
| Provident Hospital of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $409 | $412 | — | 222 min | 15.5% |
| St Mary's General Hospital | Passaic, NJ | $412 | $552 | ★ 3/5 | 183 min | 16.2% |
| Thomas Jefferson University Hospital | Philadelphia, PA | $412 | $339 | ★ 3/5 | 253 min | 16.2% |
| Newton Medical Center | Newton, NJ | $414 | $602 | ★ 4/5 | 169 min | 14.7% |
| Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital | Philadelphia, PA | $419 | $397 | ★ 3/5 | 269 min | 15.4% |
| Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital | East Norriton, PA | $419 | $382 | ★ 4/5 | 293 min | 15.6% |
| Doctor's Center De San Juan | Santurce, PR | $425 | $625 | — | — | 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 | $625 | — | 315 min | 15.8% |
| Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center | Camp Hill, PA | $427 | $544 | ★ 3/5 | 250 min | 15.3% |
| Banner Gateway Medical Center | Gilbert, AZ | $433 | $525 | ★ 3/5 | 223 min | 15.3% |
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 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: $2,543; Medicare pays $466.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | 509 |
$113 – $1,199 |
| Devoted Health | 157 |
$331 – $1,000 |
| Amerigroup | 159 |
$188 – $1,046 |
| Univera | 16 |
$90 – $548 |
| Tricare / VA | 384 |
$109 – $1,995 |
| Molina Healthcare | 511 |
$191 – $1,830 |
| Medicaid | 297 |
$93 – $1,199 |
| UCare | 65 |
$122 – $3,895 |
| Independent Health | 25 |
$112 – $779 |
| Priority Health | 56 |
$155 – $2,986 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 727 |
$216 – $1,526 |
| Highmark | 127 |
$218 – $994 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$380 – $6,291 |
| Anthem | 506 |
$233 – $2,432 |
| MVP Health Care | 80 |
$118 – $3,112 |
| EmblemHealth | 61 |
$423 – $1,404 |
| Oscar Health | 138 |
$244 – $1,894 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1349 |
$278 – $3,100 |
| SelectHealth | 48 |
$278 – $2,795 |
| AmeriHealth | 211 |
$152 – $1,574 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 94 |
$340 – $2,453 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 224 |
$359 – $4,550 |
| Geisinger | 69 |
$152 – $1,462 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1157 |
$233 – $4,081 |
| Humana | 912 |
$314 – $2,758 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 56 |
$241 – $3,556 |
| HealthPartners | 214 |
$219 – $3,868 |
| Cigna | 1056 |
$349 – $4,579 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 128 |
$271 – $3,635 |
| Aetna | 1300 |
$327 – $4,413 |
| Medica | 189 |
$313 – $4,228 |
| Health Net | 298 |
$313 – $7,833 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 61 |
$244 – $4,074 |
| Security Health Plan | 55 |
$133 – $4,017 |
| Healthcare Highways | 35 |
$410 – $4,059 |
| Coventry | 146 |
$362 – $7,015 |
| AvMed | 61 |
$1,080 – $3,533 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 796 |
$639 – $7,294 |
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 | $425 |
| Rhode Island | $824 |
| New Jersey | $919 |
| Arkansas | $1,099 |
| Louisiana | $1,112 |
| Arizona | $1,160 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2076 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,543, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $4,506, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $899, a Medicare rate of about $466. Most cash prices fall between $669 and $7,771 — 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 without contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the chest without contrast?
Why do MRI of the chest without contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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