Lung scan (V/Q) Cost by Hospital

Lung scan (V/Q) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1995 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,420median cash price · 1995 hospitals, 52 statestypically $515–$3,632 depending on the hospital
≈ 4.9× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,513
Cash / self-pay
$1,420
Insurer-negotiated
$745
Medicare pays
$291
$515$3,632
Median cash $1,420  ·  Medicare $291  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,420 — about 4.9× the Medicare rate ($291). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($581).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,513 list price could save about $1,093 (43%).

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
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $224 $156 130 min 14.6%
Doctor's Center De San Juan Santurce, PR $225 $239 15.5%
Doctors' Center Bayamon Bayamon, PR $225 $248 16.6%
Doctors' Center Hospital, Inc Manati, PR $225 $248 ★ 1/5 16.3%
Doctors Center Hospital Carolina Llc Carolina, PR $225 $239 315 min 15.8%
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens Athens, TN $229 ★ 3/5 145 min 15.0%
Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner Kenner, LA $235 $526 ★ 4/5 149 min 15.3%
Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $238 $522 ★ 4/5 153 min 15.8%
Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $238 $522 ★ 5/5 141 min 14.2%
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $239 $525 ★ 2/5 81 min 15.4%
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $239 $525 ★ 2/5
Bassett Healthcare Cooperstown, NY $243 $80 ★ 2/5 199 min 15.6%
Banner Heart Hospital Mesa, AZ $249 $649 ★ 2/5 14.4%
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $271 $59 70 min
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $283 $631 ★ 4/5 275 min 14.5%
Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Inc Gassaway, WV $287 102 min 15.0%
Avoyelles Hospital Marksville, LA $288 $959 ★ 1/5 79 min 15.1%
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $288 $583
Potomac Valley Hospital Keyser, WV $289 ★ 1/5 118 min 15.5%
Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill Kansas City, MO $292 $395 ★ 3/5 191 min 15.7%
University Health Lakewood Medical Center Kansas City, MO $292 $395 ★ 4/5 145 min 14.4%
Western Maryland Regional Medical Center Cumberland, MD $301 $501 ★ 4/5 239 min 13.6%
McLaren Northern Michigan Petoskey, MI $302 $294 ★ 3/5 150 min 14.8%
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $303 $521 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.1%
McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI $313 $294 ★ 2/5 238 min 15.2%

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 August 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 Lung scan (V/Q)

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: $1,420; Medicare pays $291.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 291
$229
$38 – $826
Univera 16
$255
$58 – $360
Independent Health 27
$314
$151 – $1,084
Highmark 117
$323
$80 – $1,075
AmeriHealth 218
$372
$57 – $1,156
Geisinger 65
$381
$57 – $1,997
Amerigroup 161
$438
$206 – $667
SelectHealth 45
$454
$118 – $1,427
MVP Health Care 78
$464
$54 – $1,976
Molina Healthcare 517
$482
$120 – $1,196
Priority Health 55
$510
$72 – $1,905
Medicare 490
$524
$107 – $763
Tricare / VA 363
$524
$245 – $1,531
Devoted Health 167
$527
$291 – $632
Anthem 507
$547
$107 – $1,914
Humana 918
$549
$216 – $2,085
Centene / Ambetter 695
$554
$107 – $1,368
UPMC Health Plan 100
$566
$257 – $1,988
UnitedHealthcare 1301
$602
$172 – $2,103
UCare 63
$636
$111 – $1,981
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 134
$647
$544 – $2,468
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1100
$673
$128 – $2,424
Harvard Pilgrim 47
$702
$107 – $1,964
Oscar Health 144
$710
$109 – $1,340
HealthPartners 215
$719
$107 – $2,135
Bright Health 42
$745
$319 – $2,113
Kaiser Permanente 222
$755
$291 – $2,737
Aetna 1226
$756
$222 – $2,639
EmblemHealth 59
$813
$103 – $1,433
Cigna 994
$892
$399 – $2,555
Sanford Health Plan 65
$953
$286 – $2,149
Medica 190
$954
$196 – $2,198
Security Health Plan 55
$1,102
$107 – $1,692
Health Net 283
$1,175
$270 – $3,140
Coventry 123
$1,280
$378 – $3,054
Healthcare Highways 42
$1,440
$246 – $3,202
AvMed 63
$1,729
$439 – $4,544
MultiPlan / PHCS network 784
$1,870
$536 – $4,158

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$225
Mississippi$554
Tennessee$595
Rhode Island$601
Arizona$610
Louisiana$641

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
Alessandro Dagnolo, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA283
Andrew Keenan, M.D.Nuclear MedicineLargo, MD280
Patrick Ford, M.D.Nuclear MedicineHouston, TX261
Stephen Chiang, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX200
Gabriel Soudry, M.D.Nuclear MedicineBaltimore, MD192
Frederick Weiland, M.D.Nuclear MedicineRoseville, CA140
Julio Cordero, MDNuclear MedicineEvanston, IL139
Jess Graham, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyAlbuquerque, NM136
Penny Vandestreek, D.O.Nuclear MedicineRoseville, CA135
Kin Wong, MDDiagnostic RadiologyDayton, OH130
Louise Thomson, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA126
Abdel Tahari, MD, PHDNuclear MedicineUrbana, IL122

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Lung scan (V/Q)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Lung scan (V/Q). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $291. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $58 — 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 1995 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,420, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,513, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $745, a Medicare rate of about $291. Most cash prices fall between $515 and $3,632 — 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 Lung scan (V/Q) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1995 US hospitals is $1,420. Most hospitals fall between $515 and $3,632. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Lung scan (V/Q)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $291). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Lung scan (V/Q)?
Medicare pays about $291. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Lung scan (V/Q) 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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