X-ray of the forearm Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the forearm is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2344 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$241median cash price · 2344 hospitals, 52 statestypically $87–$639 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$405
Cash / self-pay
$241
Insurer-negotiated
$122
Medicare pays
$29
$87$639
Median cash $241  ·  Medicare $29  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

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%).

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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 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.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$18
$6 – $34
Medicaid 363
$20
$6 – $105
Amerigroup 171
$36
$19 – $129
Highmark 133
$54
$12 – $190
Molina Healthcare 565
$60
$14 – $239
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 156
$60
$24 – $413
AmeriHealth 233
$72
$13 – $212
Anthem 566
$74
$13 – $295
Medicare 582
$82
$8 – $128
Tricare / VA 413
$82
$15 – $324
SelectHealth 47
$83
$26 – $469
Priority Health 62
$84
$12 – $297
Geisinger 70
$84
$11 – $328
UPMC Health Plan 93
$85
$17 – $365
Humana 1032
$85
$25 – $399
Independent Health 36
$87
$8 – $185
Devoted Health 154
$87
$42 – $157
Centene / Ambetter 806
$89
$18 – $313
MVP Health Care 86
$90
$10 – $346
UCare 74
$92
$16 – $296
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1294
$94
$17 – $363
EmblemHealth 67
$109
$10 – $263
Harvard Pilgrim 56
$110
$21 – $391
UnitedHealthcare 1541
$111
$19 – $453
Aetna 1435
$121
$24 – $545
Kaiser Permanente 201
$124
$23 – $498
Bright Health 40
$135
$96 – $791
Oscar Health 157
$138
$26 – $219
Cigna 1170
$150
$40 – $652
Security Health Plan 63
$153
$34 – $378
Sanford Health Plan 74
$176
$29 – $386
HealthPartners 264
$184
$21 – $539
Medica 249
$186
$34 – $377
Health Net 307
$230
$29 – $1,177
Coventry 162
$262
$30 – $762
Healthcare Highways 50
$331
$112 – $672
MultiPlan / PHCS network 861
$354
$76 – $1,199
AvMed 65
$559
$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

StateMedian 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.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Milroy Emmanuel, MDDiagnostic RadiologyChicago, IL444
James Graham, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyTacoma, WA403
Chad Adams, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyTacoma, WA167
Lawrence Liebman, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyEdina, MN76
Charles Bush, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyGainesville, FL74
Daniel Moore, MDDiagnostic RadiologyDallas, TX69
Jeffrey Brooks, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryNew Canaan, CT49
Mark Cooper, M.D.,MBADiagnostic RadiologyPhiladelphia, PA47
Martin Auster, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD44
Salman Shah, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY43
Jawad Hussain, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTucson, AZ42
Amanda Jarolimek, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX40

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

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?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2344 US hospitals is $241. Most hospitals fall between $87 and $639. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the forearm?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $29). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the forearm?
Medicare pays about $29. 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 forearm 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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