X-ray of the forearm is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2344 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $241 — about 8.3× the Medicare rate ($29). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($58).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $405 list price could save about $164 (41%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist Memorial Hospital Jonesboro, Inc. | Jonesboro, AR | $36 | $122 | ★ 3/5 | 128 min | 15.3% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, Inc | West Memphis, AR | $36 | $122 | — | 147 min | 14.7% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County | New Albany, MS | $36 | $122 | ★ 4/5 | 144 min | 14.1% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital North Ms | Oxford, MS | $36 | $122 | ★ 4/5 | 153 min | 16.2% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital Booneville | Booneville, MS | $36 | $122 | ★ 3/5 | 106 min | 14.4% |
| Mississippi Baptist Medical Center | Jackson, MS | $36 | $122 | ★ 2/5 | 213 min | 16.1% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto | Southaven, MS | $36 | $122 | ★ 3/5 | 255 min | 15.7% |
| Baptist Medical Center-Yazoo | Yazoo City, MS | $36 | $122 | — | 86 min | 15.1% |
| Baptist Medical Center-Leake | Carthage, MS | $36 | $122 | ★ 2/5 | 94 min | 15.1% |
| Baptist Medical Center Attala | Kosciusko, MS | $36 | $122 | — | 73 min | 15.3% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County | Huntingdon, TN | $36 | $122 | ★ 4/5 | 118 min | 15.1% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital | Memphis, TN | $36 | $122 | ★ 3/5 | 174 min | 15.4% |
| Baptist Memorial Hospital Tipton | Covington, TN | $36 | $122 | ★ 3/5 | 149 min | 17.0% |
| Fallon Medical Complex Hospital | Baker, MT | $37 | $47 | — | 92 min | 15.2% |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City, IA | $37 | $47 | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | 15.0% |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City, IA | $37 | $47 | ★ 2/5 | 210 min | 13.5% |
| Bleckley Memorial Hospital | Cochran, GA | $38 | $62 | — | 125 min | 14.9% |
| Three Rivers Hospital | Brewster, WA | $39 | — | — | — | 15.1% |
| Hospital Pavia Caguas | Caguas, PR | $40 | $21 | — | — | 17.1% |
| Hutchinson Health | Hutchinson, MN | $42 | $87 | ★ 3/5 | 140 min | 15.2% |
| Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital | Grand Rapids, MN | $42 | $88 | ★ 4/5 | 154 min | 14.4% |
| McLaren Flint | Flint, MI | $45 | $48 | ★ 2/5 | 186 min | 16.0% |
| Coffey County Hospital | Burlington, KS | $45 | — | ★ 4/5 | 89 min | 14.7% |
| Sabine Medical Center | Many, LA | $45 | $136 | — | 128 min | 15.4% |
| Memorial Hospital | Dumas, TX | $46 | $46 | — | 82 min | 15.5% |
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 forearm
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: $241; Medicare pays $29.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$6 – $34 |
| Medicaid | 363 |
$6 – $105 |
| Amerigroup | 171 |
$19 – $129 |
| Highmark | 133 |
$12 – $190 |
| Molina Healthcare | 565 |
$14 – $239 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 156 |
$24 – $413 |
| AmeriHealth | 233 |
$13 – $212 |
| Anthem | 566 |
$13 – $295 |
| Medicare | 582 |
$8 – $128 |
| Tricare / VA | 413 |
$15 – $324 |
| SelectHealth | 47 |
$26 – $469 |
| Priority Health | 62 |
$12 – $297 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$11 – $328 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 93 |
$17 – $365 |
| Humana | 1032 |
$25 – $399 |
| Independent Health | 36 |
$8 – $185 |
| Devoted Health | 154 |
$42 – $157 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 806 |
$18 – $313 |
| MVP Health Care | 86 |
$10 – $346 |
| UCare | 74 |
$16 – $296 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1294 |
$17 – $363 |
| EmblemHealth | 67 |
$10 – $263 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 56 |
$21 – $391 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1541 |
$19 – $453 |
| Aetna | 1435 |
$24 – $545 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 201 |
$23 – $498 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$96 – $791 |
| Oscar Health | 157 |
$26 – $219 |
| Cigna | 1170 |
$40 – $652 |
| Security Health Plan | 63 |
$34 – $378 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 74 |
$29 – $386 |
| HealthPartners | 264 |
$21 – $539 |
| Medica | 249 |
$34 – $377 |
| Health Net | 307 |
$29 – $1,177 |
| Coventry | 162 |
$30 – $762 |
| Healthcare Highways | 50 |
$112 – $672 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 861 |
$76 – $1,199 |
| AvMed | 65 |
$159 – $1,048 |
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 | $27 |
| Mississippi | $74 |
| Rhode Island | $91 |
| Tennessee | $91 |
| Arkansas | $104 |
| Arizona | $123 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milroy Emmanuel, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Chicago, IL | 444 |
| James Graham, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Tacoma, WA | 403 |
| Chad Adams, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Tacoma, WA | 167 |
| Lawrence Liebman, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Edina, MN | 76 |
| Charles Bush, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Gainesville, FL | 74 |
| Daniel Moore, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Dallas, TX | 69 |
| Jeffrey Brooks, M.D. | Orthopedic Surgery | New Canaan, CT | 49 |
| Mark Cooper, M.D.,MBA | Diagnostic Radiology | Philadelphia, PA | 47 |
| Martin Auster, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Baltimore, MD | 44 |
| Salman Shah, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | New York, NY | 43 |
| Jawad Hussain, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Tucson, AZ | 42 |
| Amanda Jarolimek, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Houston, TX | 40 |
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the forearm?
Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the forearm. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $29. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $6 — 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 2344 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $241, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $405, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $122, a Medicare rate of about $29. Most cash prices fall between $87 and $639 — 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 forearm cost without insurance?
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the forearm?
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the forearm?
Why do X-ray of the forearm prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.