X-ray of the skull Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the skull is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2364 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$294median cash price · 2364 hospitals, 52 statestypically $108–$842 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$514
Cash / self-pay
$294
Insurer-negotiated
$143
Medicare pays
$40
$108$842
Median cash $294  ·  Medicare $40  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $294 — about 7.4× the Medicare rate ($40). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($80).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $514 list price could save about $220 (43%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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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
Memorial Hospital Dumas, TX $45 $50 — 82 min 15.5%
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Shelbyville, TN $45 $40 ★ 4/5 123 min 13.6%
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Tullahoma, TN $45 $40 ★ 3/5 173 min 15.1%
Estes Park Medical Center Estes Park, CO $45 $58 — — 14.9%
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $45 $53 ★ 3/5 191 min 16.0%
University Medical Center of El Paso El Paso, TX $46 $105 ★ 3/5 242 min 15.4%
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $47 $73 — 128 min 15.4%
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $48 $97 ★ 2/5 203 min 16.0%
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $48 $19 — — 16.2%
Oklahoma Center for Orthopaedic & Multi-Sp Oklahoma City, OK $48 $99 — — 15.3%
Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff, AR $50 $99 ★ 1/5 200 min 15.3%
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $50 $92 — 125 min 14.9%
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $52 $70 — 92 min 15.2%
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $52 $105 ★ 3/5 140 min 15.2%
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $55 $57 — 88 min 14.7%
Aspire Hospital Conroe, TX $57 $288 — — —
Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN $57 $102 ★ 3/5 259 min 14.9%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $57 $45 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $59 $13 — 70 min —
Cumberland Medical Center Crossville, TN $59 $109 ★ 4/5 201 min 15.1%
Morristown Hamblen Hospital Association Morristown, TN $59 $102 ★ 2/5 199 min 15.7%
Roane Medical Center Harriman, TN $59 $102 ★ 4/5 174 min 15.5%
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge Oak Ridge, TN $59 $102 ★ 4/5 184 min 15.0%
Leconte Medical Center Sevierville, TN $59 $109 ★ 5/5 195 min 14.4%
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Knoxville, TN $59 $102 ★ 3/5 242 min 15.1%

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 skull

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: $294; Medicare pays $40.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 353
$29
$9 – $120
Univera 16
$30
$10 – $45
Independent Health 32
$32
$9 – $210
Amerigroup 175
$45
$25 – $141
Highmark 134
$47
$19 – $215
Molina Healthcare 574
$60
$17 – $231
Priority Health 61
$75
$13 – $355
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 150
$78
$31 – $548
Anthem 592
$79
$21 – $319
SelectHealth 48
$80
$27 – $375
MVP Health Care 86
$82
$14 – $393
Geisinger 72
$82
$23 – $394
AmeriHealth 240
$87
$17 – $228
Medicare 565
$95
$13 – $145
Humana 1064
$99
$31 – $415
Tricare / VA 428
$99
$13 – $302
Devoted Health 179
$103
$89 – $130
UPMC Health Plan 110
$104
$32 – $413
Centene / Ambetter 799
$105
$23 – $271
Harvard Pilgrim 55
$107
$26 – $523
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1303
$108
$20 – $436
UCare 74
$109
$20 – $466
UnitedHealthcare 1541
$130
$25 – $470
EmblemHealth 67
$131
$18 – $283
Aetna 1456
$132
$32 – $606
HealthPartners 259
$136
$24 – $540
Oscar Health 160
$143
$28 – $265
Cigna 1202
$145
$50 – $626
Kaiser Permanente 237
$155
$37 – $617
Bright Health 44
$155
$118 – $779
Medica 237
$157
$29 – $475
Security Health Plan 64
$210
$30 – $536
Sanford Health Plan 79
$247
$35 – $534
Health Net 334
$254
$35 – $1,007
Coventry 160
$320
$42 – $885
Healthcare Highways 51
$354
$114 – $674
MultiPlan / PHCS network 909
$420
$78 – $1,148
AvMed 65
$542
$156 – $1,318

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$37
Arkansas$124
Tennessee$133
New Jersey$139
Mississippi$146
Louisiana$164

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYCincinnati, OHLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHKansas City, MONashville, TNNew Orleans, LASaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALBoston, MA

Prices by state

CaliforniaTexasOhioNew YorkFloridaWisconsinIllinoisPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeMissouriIowaColoradoNebraskaOklahomaKentuckyArkansasKansasIndianaVirginiaArizonaMarylandWashingtonNew JerseyMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaSouth DakotaAlabamaMaineSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaOregonMontanaIdahoConnecticutNevadaNew MexicoNew HampshireUtahPuerto RicoWyomingHawaiiVermontDelawareRhode 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
Alen Cohen, M.D.OtolaryngologyWest Hills, CA197
Wesley Stroud, MDOrthopedic SurgerySavannah, GA92
Antonia Teruel Castellon, DDSOrofacial PainScottsdale, AZ86
Dharti Patel, DMDOral Surgery (Dentist only)Phoenix, AZ84
Donald Cousineau, DO, PCGeneral PracticeGaylord, MI80
Georgia Peterson-Houle, DDSOral Surgery (Dentist only)Peoria, AZ66
Basilios Costaras, DDSOral Surgery (Dentist only)Lakewood, OH65
Stephanie Schmieder, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyPhoenix, AZ58
Sean Boone, MDDiagnostic RadiologyPhoenix, AZ58
Jerrold Boxerman, MDDiagnostic RadiologyProvidence, RI55
Vinay Bhatia, MDDiagnostic RadiologyMiami Beach, FL44
Seena Patel, DMDOral Surgery (Dentist only)Phoenix, AZ43

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the skull?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the skull. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $40. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $8 — 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 2364 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $294, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $514, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $143, a Medicare rate of about $40. Most cash prices fall between $108 and $842 — 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 skull cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2364 US hospitals is $294. Most hospitals fall between $108 and $842. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the skull?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $40). 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 skull?
Medicare pays about $40. 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 skull 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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