MRI of the knee with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2043 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $2,291 — about 7.3× the Medicare rate ($315). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($630).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,950 list price could save about $1,659 (42%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Center Barbour | Eufaula, AL | $352 | $760 | — | 170 min | — |
| Jefferson Health-Northeast | Philadelphia, PA | $377 | $706 | ★ 2/5 | 290 min | 15.4% |
| Seton Medical Center Harker Heights | Harker Heights, TX | $378 | $1,473 | ★ 4/5 | 174 min | 16.3% |
| Physicians Care Surgical Hospital | Royersford, PA | $411 | $554 | — | — | 14.7% |
| 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% |
| Banner Boswell Medical Center | Sun City, AZ | $437 | $1,338 | ★ 3/5 | 227 min | 14.3% |
| Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Llc | Oklahoma City, OK | $438 | $788 | ★ 4/5 | 153 min | 15.8% |
| Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, Llc | Oklahoma City, OK | $438 | $788 | ★ 5/5 | 141 min | 14.2% |
| Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center | Sun City West, AZ | $440 | $1,338 | ★ 3/5 | 239 min | 15.1% |
| Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital | Saint Louis Park, MN | $445 | $799 | ★ 3/5 | 252 min | 15.4% |
| Coffey County Hospital | Burlington, KS | $450 | — | ★ 4/5 | 89 min | 14.7% |
| Brownfield Regional Medical Center | Brownfield, TX | $450 | $992 | — | 111 min | 15.0% |
| University of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center | Glen Burnie, MD | $453 | — | ★ 5/5 | — | 14.5% |
| The Women's Hospital | Newburgh, IN | $456 | $99 | ★ 5/5 | 128 min | — |
| Little Falls Hospital | Little Falls, NY | $462 | $473 | ★ 2/5 | 110 min | 15.7% |
| Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital | Leonardtown, MD | $472 | $482 | ★ 4/5 | 254 min | 13.3% |
| Baxter Health | Mountain Home, AR | $481 | $752 | ★ 2/5 | 190 min | 15.7% |
| Houlton Regional Hospital | Houlton, ME | $481 | $331 | ★ 3/5 | 192 min | 14.1% |
| Western Maryland Regional Medical Center | Cumberland, MD | $495 | $825 | ★ 4/5 | 239 min | 13.6% |
| Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center | Silver Spring, MD | $496 | $506 | ★ 3/5 | 309 min | 14.9% |
| Eisenhower Medical Center | Rancho Mirage, CA | $499 | $1,008 | ★ 4/5 | 259 min | 14.8% |
| Aspire Hospital | Conroe, TX | $500 | $1,493 | — | — | — |
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 knee 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: $2,291; Medicare pays $315.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 15 |
$65 – $383 |
| Independent Health | 24 |
$81 – $1,600 |
| Medicaid | 304 |
$69 – $4,516 |
| Amerigroup | 156 |
$81 – $980 |
| AmeriHealth | 203 |
$207 – $2,379 |
| Highmark | 121 |
$244 – $2,137 |
| Molina Healthcare | 493 |
$75 – $1,604 |
| Geisinger | 63 |
$271 – $2,883 |
| Tricare / VA | 353 |
$234 – $2,992 |
| Medicare | 496 |
$80 – $1,210 |
| Devoted Health | 137 |
$508 – $1,413 |
| Priority Health | 56 |
$111 – $2,873 |
| Anthem | 456 |
$201 – $2,777 |
| UCare | 51 |
$176 – $3,319 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 711 |
$245 – $1,723 |
| Humana | 871 |
$293 – $2,841 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 75 |
$340 – $2,898 |
| SelectHealth | 45 |
$422 – $3,531 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 132 |
$179 – $4,068 |
| MVP Health Care | 75 |
$115 – $4,007 |
| EmblemHealth | 57 |
$440 – $2,104 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1317 |
$262 – $3,801 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1115 |
$314 – $3,834 |
| HealthPartners | 196 |
$240 – $4,082 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 50 |
$202 – $4,516 |
| Oscar Health | 135 |
$293 – $2,208 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 183 |
$420 – $4,516 |
| Aetna | 1251 |
$309 – $4,548 |
| Medica | 181 |
$253 – $3,719 |
| Bright Health | 35 |
$933 – $4,654 |
| Cigna | 1017 |
$463 – $7,695 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 48 |
$298 – $3,673 |
| Security Health Plan | 44 |
$72 – $4,174 |
| Health Net | 265 |
$500 – $7,185 |
| Coventry | 133 |
$616 – $6,491 |
| Healthcare Highways | 37 |
$887 – $4,121 |
| AvMed | 60 |
$1,088 – $3,808 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 747 |
$1,105 – $8,360 |
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 | $873 |
| Maryland | $938 |
| Arizona | $967 |
| Arkansas | $1,049 |
| Louisiana | $1,142 |
Prices by city
Prices by state
About these prices
Based on prices published by 2043 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,291, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,950, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $1,107, a Medicare rate of about $315. Most cash prices fall between $783 and $6,766 — 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 knee with contrast cost without insurance?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the knee with contrast?
Why do MRI of the knee with contrast prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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