CT scan of the head Cost by Hospital

CT scan of the head is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2356 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,351median cash price · 2356 hospitals, 52 statestypically $412–$3,582 depending on the hospital
≈ 9.1× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,382
Cash / self-pay
$1,351
Insurer-negotiated
$432
Medicare pays
$148
$412$3,582
Median cash $1,351  ·  Medicare $148  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,351 — about 9.1× the Medicare rate ($148). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($297).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,382 list price could save about $1,030 (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
Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus Denville, NJ $203 $203 ★ 2/5 164 min 16.2%
Saint Michael's Medical Center Newark, NJ $203 $203 ★ 4/5 176 min 16.0%
Holy Cross Germantown Hospital Germantown, MD $205 $131 ★ 1/5 244 min 15.4%
Mercy Medical Center Redding Redding, CA $205 — ★ 2/5 187 min 13.5%
Mercy Medical Center Inc Baltimore, MD $205 — ★ 3/5 242 min 15.5%
VA Maryland Healthcare System-Baltimore Baltimore, MD $205 — ★ 2/5 — 17.2%
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, PA $206 $175 ★ 3/5 229 min 15.1%
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $207 $159 ★ 4/5 319 min 15.9%
St Mary's General Hospital Passaic, NJ $207 $207 ★ 3/5 183 min 16.2%
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, PA $207 $165 ★ 3/5 253 min 16.2%
Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital Philadelphia, PA $209 $189 ★ 3/5 269 min 15.4%
Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital East Norriton, PA $209 $184 ★ 4/5 293 min 15.6%
UPMC Kane Kane, PA $212 $303 — 95 min —
Geneva General Hospital Geneva, NY $212 $113 ★ 2/5 183 min 16.9%
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital of Yates Penn Yan, NY $212 $233 — 110 min 15.0%
Baxter Health Mountain Home, AR $214 $124 ★ 2/5 190 min 15.7%
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center Harrison, AR $216 $161 ★ 2/5 146 min 15.1%
St Joseph's Medical Center Yonkers, NY $216 $216 ★ 1/5 202 min 15.2%
Huntsville Memorial Hospital Huntsville, TX $217 $259 ★ 2/5 190 min 15.4%
Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery Nashville, TN $219 $137 — — 14.0%
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $221 $173 ★ 2/5 81 min 15.4%
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $221 $173 ★ 2/5 — —
Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center Enola, PA $224 $175 ★ 4/5 197 min 15.8%
Saint Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA $224 $224 ★ 3/5 250 min 14.9%
Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA $224 $224 ★ 3/5 135 min 15.6%

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 July 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 head

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: $1,351; Medicare pays $148.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$95
$48 – $179
Independent Health 34
$122
$53 – $355
Medicaid 375
$131
$45 – $618
Highmark 136
$146
$73 – $376
Medicare 618
$156
$58 – $717
Amerigroup 176
$162
$87 – $527
Tricare / VA 434
$164
$59 – $1,403
Devoted Health 179
$167
$99 – $548
Molina Healthcare 591
$177
$72 – $1,207
Geisinger 73
$187
$80 – $663
Centene / Ambetter 834
$195
$81 – $1,497
SelectHealth 48
$203
$103 – $1,804
UPMC Health Plan 109
$207
$102 – $1,127
AmeriHealth 241
$207
$62 – $1,087
UCare 73
$210
$85 – $2,013
MVP Health Care 83
$218
$62 – $1,501
EmblemHealth 66
$219
$126 – $639
Oscar Health 163
$229
$105 – $1,267
Kaiser Permanente 233
$232
$105 – $2,295
UnitedHealthcare 1628
$245
$88 – $2,129
Bright Health 44
$247
$139 – $4,500
Anthem 609
$250
$82 – $1,147
Priority Health 61
$265
$60 – $1,492
Humana 1095
$280
$98 – $1,622
Harvard Pilgrim 62
$292
$107 – $1,713
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1378
$297
$95 – $2,188
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 158
$403
$116 – $2,142
HealthPartners 285
$443
$90 – $2,364
Cigna 1234
$563
$122 – $2,919
Aetna 1513
$591
$102 – $2,650
Medica 265
$812
$109 – $2,507
Security Health Plan 65
$893
$104 – $1,759
Sanford Health Plan 78
$949
$106 – $2,460
Health Net 346
$1,084
$131 – $4,673
Healthcare Highways 41
$1,388
$471 – $2,676
Coventry 163
$1,520
$142 – $4,363
MultiPlan / PHCS network 916
$1,925
$264 – $5,293
AvMed 65
$1,945
$409 – $4,279

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$181
Puerto Rico$250
Rhode Island$459
New Jersey$490
Arkansas$695
Mississippi$725

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PAAustin, TXDallas, TXBaltimore, MDCincinnati, OHNew York, NYSacramento, CABrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXHouston, TXKansas City, MOLos Angeles, CAOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHMilwaukee, WINashville, TNOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOBirmingham, ALBoston, MA

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioWisconsinIllinoisNew YorkPennsylvaniaMinnesotaNorth CarolinaFloridaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeIowaMissouriColoradoNebraskaOklahomaArkansasKentuckyKansasSouth DakotaIndianaArizonaVirginiaWashingtonNew JerseyMassachusettsMississippiWest VirginiaAlabamaMaineSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMarylandOregonIdahoMontanaConnecticutNew HampshireUtahNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoWyomingHawaiiVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

Does Medicare cover CT scan of the head?

Yes — Medicare generally covers CT scan of the head. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $148. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $30 — 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 2356 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,351, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,382, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $432, a Medicare rate of about $148. Most cash prices fall between $412 and $3,582 — 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 head cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2356 US hospitals is $1,351. Most hospitals fall between $412 and $3,582. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover CT scan of the head?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $148). 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 head?
Medicare pays about $148. 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 head 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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