CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast Cost

CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2091 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,800median cash price · 2091 hospitals, 52 statestypically $498–$5,285 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,219
Cash / self-pay
$1,800
Insurer-negotiated
$446
Medicare pays
$196
$498$5,285
Median cash $1,800  ·  Medicare $196  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,800 — about 9.2× the Medicare rate ($196). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($392).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,219 list price could save about $1,419 (44%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
Quick fill:

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
University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore, MD $271 — ★ 3/5 309 min —
University of Md Charles Regional Medical Center La Plata, MD $271 — ★ 3/5 262 min —
University of Md St Joseph Medical Center Towson, MD $271 — ★ 5/5 264 min —
Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center Rockville, MD $272 $277 ★ 2/5 204 min —
St Joseph's Hospital-Savannah Savannah, GA $272 $215 ★ 2/5 203 min —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $274 $1,067 ★ 4/5 174 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $276 $335 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $276 $335 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Camp Hill, PA $276 $180 ★ 3/5 252 min —
Dunes Surgical Hospital Dakota Dunes, SD $281 $600 — — —
Wayne County Hospital Monticello, KY $283 — — — —
Bayside Community Hospital Anahuac, TX $287 $166 — 106 min —
Frederick Health Hospital Frederick, MD $291 — ★ 3/5 230 min —
Rochester General Hospital Rochester, NY $291 $120 ★ 2/5 233 min —
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc Salisbury, MD $292 $298 ★ 4/5 177 min —
Marion General Hospital Marion, IN $295 $457 ★ 3/5 132 min —
Marion General Hospital Columbia, MS $295 $457 ★ 1/5 126 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $299 $538 ★ 4/5 182 min —
Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Monroe, LA $300 $209 ★ 3/5 152 min —
St Joseph Hospital Bangor, ME $301 $203 ★ 3/5 186 min —
Penn State Health St. Joseph Reading, PA $301 $203 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Good Samaritan Hospital Vincennes, IN $302 $308 ★ 2/5 119 min —
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD $302 $308 ★ 3/5 247 min —
McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Oxford, OH $303 — ★ 3/5 132 min —
Good Samaritan Hospital Cincinnati, OH $303 — ★ 4/5 157 min —

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 October 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 CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast

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: $1,800; Medicare pays $196.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$165
$50 – $239
Medicare 488
$178
$111 – $824
Devoted Health 167
$179
$163 – $600
Amerigroup 162
$180
$92 – $453
Tricare / VA 360
$184
$66 – $1,662
Independent Health 26
$190
$63 – $361
Medicaid 312
$190
$54 – $670
Molina Healthcare 527
$193
$106 – $1,484
Highmark 119
$205
$134 – $382
UCare 53
$208
$93 – $2,178
Priority Health 55
$211
$87 – $1,895
Centene / Ambetter 743
$235
$113 – $2,284
SelectHealth 44
$246
$155 – $2,409
Bright Health 40
$259
$210 – $4,989
Geisinger 64
$277
$86 – $661
MVP Health Care 71
$279
$84 – $2,441
EmblemHealth 73
$285
$211 – $707
UnitedHealthcare 1369
$292
$124 – $2,383
UPMC Health Plan 102
$296
$166 – $1,303
AmeriHealth 224
$300
$86 – $1,282
Oscar Health 161
$312
$153 – $1,340
Kaiser Permanente 215
$315
$179 – $2,991
Anthem 525
$333
$131 – $1,224
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1157
$388
$131 – $2,864
HealthPartners 189
$397
$101 – $3,210
Harvard Pilgrim 44
$412
$147 – $2,015
Humana 958
$512
$142 – $1,997
Cigna 1069
$518
$175 – $3,850
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 131
$533
$178 – $2,659
Aetna 1325
$721
$156 – $3,480
Medica 174
$731
$147 – $3,200
Security Health Plan 38
$860
$137 – $2,100
Sanford Health Plan 51
$1,019
$137 – $2,588
Health Net 272
$1,126
$187 – $8,153
Healthcare Highways 39
$1,641
$512 – $3,418
AvMed 64
$2,036
$738 – $3,879
Coventry 139
$2,214
$185 – $4,951
MultiPlan / PHCS network 797
$2,761
$354 – $6,790

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
Maryland$297
Rhode Island$469
New Jersey$711
Arkansas$785
Mississippi$794
Tennessee$844

Prices by city

Prices by state

Does Medicare cover CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $196. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $39 — 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 2091 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,800, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,219, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $446, a Medicare rate of about $196. Most cash prices fall between $498 and $5,285 — 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 CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2091 US hospitals is $1,800. Most hospitals fall between $498 and $5,285. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $196). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast?
Medicare pays about $196. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast 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

See more Imaging & Radiology.