Chest X-ray Cost by Hospital

Chest X-ray is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2381 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$237median cash price · 2381 hospitals, 52 statestypically $89–$636 depending on the hospital
≈ 6.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$413
Cash / self-pay
$237
Insurer-negotiated
$125
Medicare pays
$37
$89$636
Median cash $237  ·  Medicare $37  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $237 — about 6.4× the Medicare rate ($37). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($74).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $413 list price could save about $176 (43%).

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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
Baptist Health Medical Center Heber Springs Heber Springs, AR $36 $86 ★ 3/5 115 min 15.2%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia Arkadelphia, AR $36 $86 — 95 min 15.2%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $37 $42 ★ 4/5 157 min 15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $37 $42 ★ 2/5 210 min 13.5%
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $38 $16 — — 16.2%
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH $38 $54 — — —
Ochsner Laird Hospital Union, MS $38 $49 — 101 min 15.4%
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $38 $32 — 285 min 15.8%
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $38 $67 — 92 min 15.2%
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $38 $91 ★ 3/5 252 min 15.4%
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $39 $87 ★ 3/5 140 min 15.2%
Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY $40 — ★ 2/5 206 min 17.2%
McLaren Bay Region Bay City, MI $41 $48 ★ 1/5 170 min 16.3%
Three Rivers Hospital Brewster, WA $43 $57 — — 15.1%
CHI St Alexius Health Williston Williston, ND $44 $61 ★ 3/5 157 min 15.6%
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $44 $202 ★ 4/5 174 min 16.3%
Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock North Little Rock, AR $45 $85 ★ 1/5 213 min 15.8%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County Monticello, AR $45 $87 ★ 2/5 126 min 18.1%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock Little Rock, AR $45 $85 ★ 3/5 146 min 16.1%
Baptist Health-Van Buren Van Buren, AR $45 $86 — 70 min —
Baptist Health-Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR $45 $86 ★ 2/5 114 min 15.2%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart Stuttgart, AR $45 $88 ★ 3/5 101 min 15.0%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Springs County Malvern, AR $45 $86 — 100 min 15.0%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway Conway, AR $45 $86 ★ 2/5 148 min 15.6%
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $45 $70 — 125 min 14.9%

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 Chest X-ray

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: $237; Medicare pays $37.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 382
$27
$8 – $129
Univera 16
$28
$11 – $50
Amerigroup 173
$46
$24 – $155
Highmark 138
$51
$17 – $190
Geisinger 73
$52
$16 – $328
SelectHealth 49
$58
$20 – $368
Molina Healthcare 572
$75
$17 – $197
Anthem 601
$75
$16 – $301
Medicare 630
$81
$10 – $134
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 160
$81
$32 – $549
Priority Health 63
$82
$15 – $264
AmeriHealth 229
$84
$14 – $257
Tricare / VA 435
$86
$20 – $292
Independent Health 37
$87
$23 – $190
UCare 74
$90
$13 – $325
Devoted Health 167
$90
$68 – $123
Centene / Ambetter 840
$92
$20 – $297
Humana 1116
$92
$25 – $358
MVP Health Care 87
$92
$13 – $359
UPMC Health Plan 99
$94
$25 – $325
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1369
$99
$19 – $460
UnitedHealthcare 1586
$106
$22 – $396
EmblemHealth 67
$109
$15 – $238
Harvard Pilgrim 59
$110
$24 – $397
HealthPartners 283
$112
$16 – $399
Aetna 1477
$117
$27 – $489
Oscar Health 150
$117
$25 – $286
Kaiser Permanente 243
$124
$27 – $512
Medica 259
$126
$25 – $413
Bright Health 46
$135
$82 – $716
Cigna 1203
$136
$40 – $515
Security Health Plan 64
$153
$27 – $306
Sanford Health Plan 82
$173
$23 – $395
Health Net 339
$223
$27 – $791
Coventry 164
$244
$37 – $643
AvMed 63
$307
$79 – $796
Healthcare Highways 51
$308
$114 – $540
MultiPlan / PHCS network 894
$337
$62 – $878

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$33
Rhode Island$97
Tennessee$99
Arizona$105
Arkansas$110
New Jersey$115

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYCincinnati, OHLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCKansas City, MOMilwaukee, WINashville, TNNew Orleans, LAOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOBirmingham, ALBoston, MA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioIllinoisNew YorkWisconsinFloridaPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeIowaMissouriNebraskaColoradoArkansasOklahomaKentuckyKansasIndianaSouth DakotaVirginiaWashingtonNew JerseyArizonaMarylandMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoNew HampshireUtahNevadaNew MexicoConnecticutPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2381 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $237, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $413, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $125, a Medicare rate of about $37. Most cash prices fall between $89 and $636 — 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 Chest X-ray cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2381 US hospitals is $237. Most hospitals fall between $89 and $636. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for Chest X-ray?
Medicare pays about $37. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Chest X-ray 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.

Related Imaging & Radiology

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See more Imaging & Radiology.