X-ray of the elbow Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the elbow is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2286 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$273median cash price · 2286 hospitals, 52 statestypically $93–$705 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$459
Cash / self-pay
$273
Insurer-negotiated
$124
Medicare pays
$33
$93$705
Median cash $273  ·  Medicare $33  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $273 — about 8.3× 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 $459 list price could save about $186 (41%).

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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
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $41 $52 — 92 min 15.2%
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%

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 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: $273; Medicare pays $33.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$22
$9 – $38
Medicaid 358
$22
$7 – $94
Amerigroup 167
$43
$18 – $127
Molina Healthcare 541
$50
$17 – $252
Highmark 135
$54
$13 – $190
Medicare 579
$62
$8 – $128
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 156
$69
$30 – $393
Anthem 536
$71
$14 – $301
Tricare / VA 406
$82
$14 – $356
MVP Health Care 85
$82
$9 – $381
AmeriHealth 221
$83
$13 – $234
UPMC Health Plan 81
$85
$17 – $409
SelectHealth 47
$85
$30 – $469
Geisinger 70
$85
$11 – $419
Priority Health 62
$86
$13 – $305
Humana 998
$86
$25 – $435
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1276
$89
$17 – $371
UCare 70
$90
$18 – $362
Devoted Health 141
$90
$65 – $209
Centene / Ambetter 794
$91
$17 – $409
UnitedHealthcare 1500
$108
$20 – $492
Independent Health 35
$109
$9 – $256
EmblemHealth 66
$109
$13 – $272
Harvard Pilgrim 56
$111
$22 – $406
Oscar Health 144
$119
$29 – $259
Aetna 1398
$129
$26 – $677
Kaiser Permanente 201
$133
$24 – $559
Bright Health 40
$135
$88 – $1,054
Cigna 1129
$150
$42 – $736
Security Health Plan 60
$160
$31 – $438
HealthPartners 257
$163
$19 – $570
Medica 244
$166
$34 – $449
Sanford Health Plan 75
$197
$31 – $411
Health Net 304
$222
$27 – $1,339
Coventry 158
$273
$33 – $913
Healthcare Highways 47
$373
$102 – $798
MultiPlan / PHCS network 826
$430
$58 – $1,450
AvMed 63
$669
$177 – $1,296

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$54
Rhode Island$91
Tennessee$104
Mississippi$104
Arkansas$105
New Jersey$130

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXHouston, TXDallas, TXNew York, NYCincinnati, OHBrooklyn, NYKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CAOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCFort Worth, TXNashville, TNSacramento, CASaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, ARMilwaukee, WINew Orleans, LA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioIllinoisNew YorkFloridaWisconsinPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeIowaMissouriColoradoNebraskaOklahomaArkansasKansasSouth DakotaIndianaVirginiaKentuckyMarylandNew JerseyArizonaMississippiMassachusettsWashingtonWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMontanaIdahoOregonNew HampshireUtahConnecticutNevadaNew MexicoHawaiiWyomingPuerto RicoVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2286 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $273, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $459, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $124, a Medicare rate of about $33. Most cash prices fall between $93 and $705 — 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?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2286 US hospitals is $273. Most hospitals fall between $93 and $705. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the elbow?
Medicare pays about $33. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do X-ray of the elbow 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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