X-ray of the elbow is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2332 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $276 — about 8.4× the Medicare rate ($33). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($66).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $461 list price could save about $185 (40%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren Caro Region | Caro, MI | $42 | $10 | — | 70 min | — |
| Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital | Tulsa, OK | $42 | $42 | — | 208 min | 15.3% |
| Sabine Medical Center | Many, LA | $45 | $136 | — | 128 min | 15.4% |
| Coffey County Hospital | Burlington, KS | $46 | — | ★ 4/5 | 89 min | 14.7% |
| Hutchinson Health | Hutchinson, MN | $47 | $89 | ★ 3/5 | 140 min | 15.2% |
| Johnson Regional Medical Center | Clarksville, AR | $48 | $33 | ★ 4/5 | 144 min | 15.5% |
| United Memorial Medical Center | Batavia, NY | $49 | $17 | ★ 2/5 | 164 min | 14.7% |
| Conway Medical Center | Conway, SC | $49 | $22 | ★ 2/5 | 134 min | 15.6% |
| Jefferson Regional Medical Center | Pine Bluff, AR | $50 | $81 | ★ 1/5 | 200 min | 15.3% |
| Hospital General De Castaner | Castaner, PR | $52 | $30 | — | — | — |
| Wayne County Hospital | Monticello, KY | $52 | — | — | — | — |
| The Women's Hospital | Newburgh, IN | $53 | $30 | ★ 5/5 | 128 min | — |
| Pratt Regional Medical Center | Pratt, KS | $53 | $84 | ★ 4/5 | 99 min | 14.2% |
| Heritage Valley Beaver | Beaver, PA | $53 | $84 | ★ 3/5 | 185 min | 14.5% |
| Heritage Valley Sewickley | Sewickley, PA | $53 | $84 | ★ 4/5 | 132 min | 15.1% |
| White Mountain Regional Medical Center | Springerville, AZ | $55 | $80 | — | 132 min | 14.9% |
| Eisenhower Medical Center | Rancho Mirage, CA | $55 | $112 | ★ 4/5 | 259 min | 14.8% |
| Cordova Community Medical Center | Cordova, AK | $56 | — | — | 127 min | — |
| University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics | Chicago, IL | $56 | $38 | ★ 4/5 | 319 min | 15.9% |
| Hospital De La Concepcion | San German, PR | $56 | $16 | — | — | 16.2% |
| El Paso Children's Hospital | El Paso, TX | $56 | $113 | — | — | — |
| Hills & Dales General Hospital | Cass City, MI | $56 | $227 | ★ 4/5 | 94 min | 14.7% |
| Ochsner American Legion Hospital | Jennings, LA | $57 | $122 | ★ 2/5 | 104 min | 15.3% |
| Maimonides Medical Center | Brooklyn, NY | $58 | — | ★ 2/5 | 206 min | 17.2% |
| Ochsner Medical Center Acute | New Orleans, LA | $58 | $81 | ★ 4/5 | 168 min | 16.2% |
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 X-ray of the elbow
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: $276; Medicare pays $33.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$9 – $38 |
| Medicaid | 363 |
$7 – $94 |
| Amerigroup | 170 |
$18 – $127 |
| Molina Healthcare | 565 |
$17 – $252 |
| Highmark | 135 |
$13 – $190 |
| Medicare | 581 |
$8 – $128 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 156 |
$30 – $393 |
| Anthem | 561 |
$14 – $306 |
| AmeriHealth | 234 |
$13 – $229 |
| Tricare / VA | 410 |
$14 – $356 |
| MVP Health Care | 85 |
$9 – $381 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 93 |
$18 – $366 |
| SelectHealth | 47 |
$30 – $469 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$11 – $419 |
| Priority Health | 62 |
$13 – $305 |
| Humana | 1025 |
$25 – $436 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1290 |
$17 – $371 |
| Devoted Health | 153 |
$65 – $209 |
| UCare | 74 |
$18 – $362 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 800 |
$16 – $409 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1532 |
$20 – $490 |
| Independent Health | 36 |
$9 – $256 |
| EmblemHealth | 66 |
$13 – $272 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 56 |
$22 – $406 |
| Aetna | 1429 |
$25 – $666 |
| Oscar Health | 158 |
$29 – $235 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 202 |
$24 – $559 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$88 – $1,054 |
| Cigna | 1159 |
$42 – $735 |
| Security Health Plan | 63 |
$31 – $438 |
| HealthPartners | 265 |
$19 – $570 |
| Medica | 247 |
$34 – $448 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 75 |
$31 – $411 |
| Health Net | 306 |
$27 – $1,339 |
| Coventry | 162 |
$33 – $913 |
| Healthcare Highways | 47 |
$102 – $798 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 851 |
$60 – $1,438 |
| AvMed | 65 |
$159 – $1,291 |
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 | $54 |
| Rhode Island | $91 |
| Tennessee | $104 |
| Mississippi | $104 |
| Arkansas | $105 |
| New Jersey | $130 |
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.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javaid Sheikh, MD FACP MRCP UK | Rheumatology | Orlando, FL | 472 |
| Steven Weck, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Glen Cove, NY | 303 |
| Stephen Putman, MD | Hand Surgery | Murrells Inlet, SC | 173 |
| Brian Hill, M.D. | Orthopedic Surgery | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 153 |
| Jonathan Uroskie, M.D. | Hand Surgery | Peabody, MA | 150 |
| Daniel Torres, M.D. | Hand Surgery | Allentown, PA | 138 |
| Daniel Bronsnick, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Princeton, NJ | 120 |
| Xavier Simcock, M.D. | Orthopedic Surgery | Chicago, IL | 119 |
| Tze Ip, M.D. | Hand Surgery | Newport Beach, CA | 115 |
| David Rhodes, MD | Hand Surgery | North Little Rock, AR | 115 |
| Catherine Roberts, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Las Vegas, NV | 112 |
| Dillon Chen, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Sacramento, CA | 107 |
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the elbow?
Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the elbow. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $33. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $7 — 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 2332 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $276, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $461, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $124, a Medicare rate of about $33. Most cash prices fall between $94 and $706 — 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 X-ray of the elbow cost without insurance?
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the elbow?
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the elbow?
Why do X-ray of the elbow prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.