X-ray of the shoulder Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the shoulder is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2355 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$282median cash price · 2355 hospitals, 52 statestypically $97–$734 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.9× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$470
Cash / self-pay
$282
Insurer-negotiated
$125
Medicare pays
$36
$97$734
Median cash $282  ·  Medicare $36  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $282 — about 7.9× the Medicare rate ($36). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($71).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $470 list price could save about $188 (40%).

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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
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $43 $17 ★ 2/5 290 min 15.4%
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $44 $66 — 125 min 14.9%
Oklahoma Center for Orthopaedic & Multi-Sp Oklahoma City, OK $44 $90 — — 15.3%
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $44 $56 — 92 min 15.2%
Three Rivers Hospital Brewster, WA $44 — — — 15.1%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $45 $56 ★ 4/5 157 min 15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $45 $56 ★ 2/5 210 min 13.5%
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $45 $13 — — 16.2%
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $45 $151 — 128 min 15.4%
Johnson Regional Medical Center Clarksville, AR $48 $35 ★ 4/5 144 min 15.5%
Ochsner Stennis Memorial Hospital De Kalb, MS $49 $55 — 91 min 14.9%
Baptist Health Medical Center Heber Springs Heber Springs, AR $49 $86 ★ 3/5 115 min 15.2%
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $49 $12 — 70 min —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $49 $90 ★ 3/5 140 min 15.2%
Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia Arkadelphia, AR $49 $86 — 95 min 15.2%
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $50 $40 — 130 min 14.6%
Memorial Hospital Dumas, TX $50 $50 — 82 min 15.5%
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids, MN $50 $92 ★ 4/5 154 min 14.4%
Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital Austin, TX $52 $35 — — 14.4%
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%
Hospital General De Castaner Castaner, PR $56 $29 — — —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $57 $87 ★ 2/5 203 min 16.0%
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $57 $122 ★ 2/5 104 min 15.3%
Banner North Colorado Medical Center Greeley, CO $58 $139 ★ 4/5 145 min 14.6%

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 shoulder

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: $282; Medicare pays $36.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 371
$24
$8 – $110
Univera 16
$26
$9 – $40
Amerigroup 171
$39
$22 – $133
Molina Healthcare 570
$51
$18 – $236
Highmark 135
$79
$18 – $190
Medicare 594
$80
$9 – $157
Tricare / VA 415
$82
$16 – $392
Anthem 566
$82
$16 – $313
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 158
$84
$39 – $487
SelectHealth 48
$86
$30 – $469
Humana 1053
$87
$29 – $449
Priority Health 63
$88
$20 – $329
AmeriHealth 235
$90
$20 – $239
UCare 76
$90
$20 – $316
Centene / Ambetter 814
$91
$20 – $342
Geisinger 70
$92
$19 – $474
Devoted Health 155
$95
$62 – $270
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1313
$96
$20 – $379
UPMC Health Plan 94
$103
$23 – $498
MVP Health Care 87
$104
$10 – $474
UnitedHealthcare 1551
$107
$23 – $501
Harvard Pilgrim 57
$110
$24 – $391
EmblemHealth 67
$110
$15 – $268
Kaiser Permanente 203
$118
$26 – $554
Independent Health 37
$129
$12 – $256
Aetna 1449
$132
$29 – $628
Bright Health 41
$135
$88 – $988
Oscar Health 160
$138
$32 – $251
Security Health Plan 64
$165
$28 – $417
Cigna 1183
$166
$45 – $718
HealthPartners 274
$167
$23 – $570
Sanford Health Plan 76
$197
$35 – $387
Medica 252
$198
$43 – $421
Health Net 310
$247
$27 – $1,032
Coventry 165
$278
$35 – $922
Healthcare Highways 50
$378
$114 – $743
MultiPlan / PHCS network 861
$409
$69 – $1,415
AvMed 66
$676
$152 – $1,348

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$64
Arkansas$101
Tennessee$105
Mississippi$121
New Jersey$134
Louisiana$142

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYCincinnati, OHBrooklyn, NYLos Angeles, CAOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHFort Worth, TXKansas City, MONashville, TNNew Orleans, LAOmaha, NESacramento, CASaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, AL

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioWisconsinIllinoisNew YorkFloridaPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeIowaMissouriColoradoNebraskaOklahomaKansasArkansasIndianaSouth DakotaKentuckyVirginiaArizonaMarylandNew JerseyWashingtonMississippiMassachusettsWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaOregonMontanaNorth DakotaIdahoConnecticutNew MexicoNew HampshireUtahNevadaHawaiiWyomingPuerto RicoVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

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
Derek Cuff, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryVenice, FL1,640
Sanjay Saini, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBoston, MA1,587
Christos Kosmas, MDDiagnostic RadiologyCleveland, OH1,479
Gita Pillai, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryLewes, DE1,373
Elizabeth Morris, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY1,288
James Graham, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyTacoma, WA1,280
Michael Friedman, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBelleville, IL1,274
Sean Grey, MDOrthopedic SurgeryFort Collins, CO1,212
Jason Sinner, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBurbank, CA1,212
David Fehnel, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryPeabody, MA1,211
Jonathan Levy, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryBoca Raton, FL1,201
Ana Mata-Fink, MDOrthopedic SurgerySalisbury, MD1,165

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the shoulder?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the shoulder. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $36. 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 2355 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $282, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $470, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $125, a Medicare rate of about $36. Most cash prices fall between $97 and $734 — 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 shoulder cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2355 US hospitals is $282. Most hospitals fall between $97 and $734. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the shoulder?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $36). 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 shoulder?
Medicare pays about $36. 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 shoulder 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.