MRI of the shoulder with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRI of the shoulder with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2098 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,309median cash price · 2098 hospitals, 52 statestypically $809–$6,745 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,962
Cash / self-pay
$2,309
Insurer-negotiated
$1,092
Medicare pays
$313
$809$6,745
Median cash $2,309  ·  Medicare $313  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,309 — about 7.4× the Medicare rate ($313). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($625).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,962 list price could save about $1,653 (42%).

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
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $3,284 ★ 5/5 — —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $363 $857 ★ 1/5 168 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $374 $706 ★ 2/5 316 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson Carson City, MI $387 $801 ★ 4/5 91 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 —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $444 $799 ★ 3/5 257 min —
University of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center Glen Burnie, MD $447 — ★ 5/5 — —
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $448 $1,370 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Sun City West, AZ $451 $1,370 ★ 3/5 230 min —
Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD $467 $476 ★ 4/5 256 min —
Baxter Health Mountain Home, AR $477 $752 ★ 2/5 184 min —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $478 $723 ★ 2/5 203 min —
Houlton Regional Hospital Houlton, ME $481 $329 ★ 3/5 194 min —
Western Maryland Regional Medical Center Cumberland, MD $489 $815 ★ 4/5 235 min —
Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center Silver Spring, MD $490 $500 ★ 3/5 296 min —
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Inc Annapolis, MD $497 — ★ 3/5 245 min —
Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA $499 $1,008 ★ 4/5 259 min —
Aspire Hospital Conroe, TX $500 $1,076 — — —
Community Hospital of Staunton Staunton, IL $503 $810 — — —
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center Fort Collins, CO $504 $1,126 — 118 min —
Mercy Medical Ctr Springfield, MA $512 $191 ★ 2/5 275 min —
Banner Gateway Medical Center Gilbert, AZ $515 $1,495 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $521 $472 ★ 2/5 109 min —
McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Oxford, OH $525 — ★ 3/5 132 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 shoulder 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: $2,309; Medicare pays $313.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$271
$65 – $383
Independent Health 23
$384
$81 – $1,600
Amerigroup 161
$411
$81 – $967
Medicaid 317
$438
$69 – $4,516
Highmark 126
$707
$244 – $1,929
Molina Healthcare 522
$755
$154 – $1,545
AmeriHealth 220
$757
$201 – $2,213
Medicare 519
$765
$88 – $1,105
Geisinger 65
$766
$160 – $2,883
Devoted Health 154
$771
$508 – $1,315
Tricare / VA 377
$774
$233 – $3,101
Priority Health 56
$781
$112 – $2,873
Anthem 513
$801
$208 – $2,820
Humana 928
$816
$303 – $2,831
Centene / Ambetter 744
$816
$256 – $1,953
UCare 63
$830
$175 – $3,595
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 136
$894
$179 – $4,050
SelectHealth 45
$896
$421 – $3,459
UnitedHealthcare 1394
$992
$261 – $3,845
EmblemHealth 73
$1,013
$362 – $1,519
UPMC Health Plan 93
$1,043
$284 – $2,918
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1149
$1,063
$317 – $3,960
Harvard Pilgrim 52
$1,089
$203 – $4,367
MVP Health Care 72
$1,117
$200 – $4,007
HealthPartners 216
$1,185
$247 – $4,568
Kaiser Permanente 191
$1,228
$420 – $4,516
Oscar Health 168
$1,235
$293 – $2,229
Bright Health 36
$1,329
$933 – $5,553
Aetna 1337
$1,407
$312 – $4,516
Medica 199
$1,439
$256 – $3,974
Cigna 1080
$1,496
$454 – $6,845
Sanford Health Plan 56
$1,899
$305 – $3,755
Security Health Plan 58
$1,941
$41 – $3,944
Health Net 276
$2,058
$500 – $6,205
Coventry 146
$2,279
$616 – $5,760
Healthcare Highways 37
$2,542
$1,024 – $4,121
AvMed 64
$3,110
$1,088 – $3,810
MultiPlan / PHCS network 805
$3,748
$1,180 – $8,077

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
Rhode Island$873
Arizona$963
Tennessee$973
Maryland$976
New Jersey$1,054
Louisiana$1,081

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
Howard Harris, MDOrthopedic SurgeryBedford, TX192
Michael Nguyen, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryBedford, TX60
Gregory Applegate, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyVan Nuys, CA49
Timothy Petsche, M.D.Sports MedicineGeneva, IL49
Giridhar Burra, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryNaperville, IL44
Heber Crockett, MDOrthopedic SurgeryKearney, NE36
Waqas Hussain, M.D.Sports MedicineMoline, IL29
Jason Clark, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryMoline, IL25
Thomas Vongillern, M.D.Hand SurgeryMoline, IL23
Brian Maiocco, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryPalm Harbor, FL22
Steven NudoDiagnostic RadiologyPalos Heights, IL21
Jeffrey Davick, MDOrthopedic SurgeryWest Des Moines, IA20

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover MRI of the shoulder with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the shoulder with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $313. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $63 — 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 2098 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,309, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,962, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $1,092, a Medicare rate of about $313. Most cash prices fall between $809 and $6,745 — 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 shoulder with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2098 US hospitals is $2,309. Most hospitals fall between $809 and $6,745. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the shoulder with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $313). 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 shoulder with contrast?
Medicare pays about $313. 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 shoulder 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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