CT scan of the chest Cost by Hospital

CT scan of the chest is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2379 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,502median cash price · 2379 hospitals, 52 statestypically $439–$3,876 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.0× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,625
Cash / self-pay
$1,502
Insurer-negotiated
$446
Medicare pays
$167
$439$3,876
Median cash $1,502  ·  Medicare $167  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,502 — about 9.0× the Medicare rate ($167). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($333).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,625 list price could save about $1,124 (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
Centrastate Medical Center Freehold, NJ $227 $383 ★ 4/5 219 min —
Shore Medical Center Somers Point, NJ $227 $273 ★ 3/5 148 min —
Jefferson Stratford Hospital Stratford, NJ $227 $178 ★ 2/5 215 min —
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Montclair, NJ $230 $2,207 ★ 4/5 229 min —
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $233 $231 ★ 2/5 109 min —
The University Hospital Newark, NJ $234 $407 ★ 1/5 307 min —
Oklahoma Spine Hospital Oklahoma City, OK $235 $158 — 112 min —
Frederick Health Hospital Frederick, MD $236 — ★ 3/5 230 min —
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional, Inc Salisbury, MD $237 $242 ★ 4/5 177 min —
Morristown Medical Center Morristown, NJ $238 $240 ★ 5/5 250 min —
Chilton Medical Center Pompton Plains, NJ $238 $292 ★ 5/5 207 min —
Overlook Medical Center Summit, NJ $238 $292 ★ 5/5 192 min —
Haywood County Community Hospital Brownsville, TN $240 $108 — 126 min —
Good Samaritan Hospital Vincennes, IN $244 $249 ★ 2/5 119 min —
Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore, MD $244 $249 ★ 3/5 247 min —
Geneva General Hospital Geneva, NY $253 $135 ★ 2/5 190 min —
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital of Yates Penn Yan, NY $253 $246 — 113 min —
Surgical Institute of Reading Wyomissing, PA $253 $263 — — —
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD $254 $259 ★ 5/5 228 min —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $255 $193 ★ 4/5 298 min —
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $258 $179 ★ 3/5 190 min —
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, PA $258 $176 ★ 3/5 231 min —
Citizens Memorial Hospital Bolivar, MO $261 $187 ★ 3/5 186 min —
Calverthealth Medical Center Prince Frederick, MD $262 — ★ 5/5 194 min —
Medstar Harbor Hospital Baltimore, MD $265 $270 ★ 4/5 212 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 chest

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: $1,502; Medicare pays $167.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$116
$50 – $202
Medicaid 377
$147
$44 – $577
Independent Health 34
$153
$54 – $355
Medicare 624
$167
$54 – $751
Tricare / VA 440
$169
$58 – $1,296
Highmark 139
$169
$72 – $382
Devoted Health 183
$170
$102 – $702
Amerigroup 177
$175
$74 – $685
Molina Healthcare 596
$178
$55 – $1,059
Centene / Ambetter 848
$197
$73 – $1,343
Geisinger 76
$201
$84 – $661
AmeriHealth 246
$220
$80 – $1,237
UPMC Health Plan 114
$226
$96 – $1,128
MVP Health Care 85
$238
$72 – $1,613
UCare 75
$243
$89 – $2,305
SelectHealth 48
$245
$121 – $1,648
Bright Health 44
$247
$147 – $3,678
Kaiser Permanente 238
$251
$119 – $2,453
UnitedHealthcare 1656
$263
$96 – $2,312
Anthem 626
$275
$89 – $1,236
Oscar Health 175
$275
$113 – $1,293
Humana 1111
$275
$100 – $1,785
EmblemHealth 81
$281
$141 – $704
Priority Health 60
$292
$74 – $1,694
Harvard Pilgrim 63
$297
$113 – $1,821
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1384
$333
$100 – $2,400
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 159
$514
$148 – $2,272
Cigna 1253
$567
$124 – $3,058
Aetna 1540
$653
$105 – $2,793
HealthPartners 287
$691
$102 – $2,736
Medica 267
$841
$109 – $2,867
Security Health Plan 65
$1,044
$104 – $2,111
Health Net 347
$1,123
$134 – $4,930
Sanford Health Plan 81
$1,215
$136 – $2,802
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,408
$487 – $2,897
Coventry 168
$1,580
$152 – $4,258
MultiPlan / PHCS network 934
$2,030
$263 – $5,312
AvMed 67
$2,059
$315 – $4,429

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$249
New Jersey$620
Rhode Island$666
Arkansas$702
New York$744
Tennessee$751

Prices by city

Prices by state

Does Medicare cover CT scan of the chest?

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the chest. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $167. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $33 — 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 2379 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,502, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,625, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $446, a Medicare rate of about $167. Most cash prices fall between $439 and $3,876 — 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 chest cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2379 US hospitals is $1,502. Most hospitals fall between $439 and $3,876. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the chest?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $167). 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 chest?
Medicare pays about $167. 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 chest 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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