MRA of the brain with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRA of the brain with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 1915 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,922median cash price · 1915 hospitals, 52 statestypically $586–$6,062 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.5× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,685
Cash / self-pay
$1,922
Insurer-negotiated
$705
Medicare pays
$226
$586$6,062
Median cash $1,922  ·  Medicare $226  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,922 — about 8.5× the Medicare rate ($226). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($453).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,685 list price could save about $1,763 (48%).

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
Sparrow Ionia Hospital Ionia, MI $289 $522 ★ 2/5 158 min —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $290 $1,132 ★ 4/5 174 min —
Sisters of Charity Hospital Buffalo, NY $300 $789 ★ 3/5 203 min —
Kenmore Mercy Hospital Kenmore, NY $300 $631 ★ 3/5 236 min —
Mount St. Mary's Hospital & Health Center Lewiston, NY $300 $631 ★ 2/5 156 min —
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo Buffalo, NY $300 $789 ★ 2/5 307 min —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $307 $378 ★ 3/5 257 min —
Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL $311 $311 ★ 3/5 155 min —
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Casa Grande, AZ $312 $514 ★ 2/5 174 min —
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $320 $318 — 95 min —
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $537 — 279 min —
Saint John Hospital Leavenworth, KS $328 $345 ★ 3/5 126 min —
Providence Medical Center Kansas City, KS $328 $424 ★ 3/5 122 min —
East Liverpool City Hospital East Liverpool, OH $328 $378 ★ 3/5 132 min —
Coshocton Regional Medical Center Coshocton, OH $328 $410 ★ 4/5 149 min —
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $331 $548 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Sun City West, AZ $337 $525 ★ 3/5 230 min —
Banner Ironwood Medical Center Queen Creek, AZ $342 $548 ★ 3/5 221 min —
Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA $343 $359 ★ 3/5 150 min —
Saint Anthony Hospital Chicago, IL $344 $543 ★ 2/5 181 min —
Central Maine Medical Center Lewiston, ME $344 $344 ★ 4/5 253 min —
Lake Huron Medical Center Port Huron, MI $345 $346 ★ 4/5 168 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson Carson City, MI $345 $356 ★ 4/5 91 min —
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $346 $346 ★ 2/5 114 min —
Advanced Surgical Hospital Washington, PA $346 $381 — — —

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 MRA of the brain with 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: $1,922; Medicare pays $226.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$189
$46 – $364
Highmark 99
$267
$140 – $710
Amerigroup 156
$315
$215 – $1,102
Medicaid 277
$320
$123 – $1,675
Devoted Health 165
$346
$324 – $800
Priority Health 48
$348
$82 – $2,073
Tricare / VA 328
$351
$201 – $2,182
Medicare 440
$357
$147 – $1,481
SelectHealth 42
$358
$222 – $2,001
Molina Healthcare 492
$363
$147 – $1,581
Anthem 491
$411
$136 – $1,457
AmeriHealth 192
$441
$59 – $1,329
UCare 56
$450
$128 – $3,208
Centene / Ambetter 667
$456
$156 – $1,509
UPMC Health Plan 84
$510
$322 – $2,108
UnitedHealthcare 1260
$510
$211 – $2,518
Harvard Pilgrim 42
$515
$132 – $2,377
Geisinger 58
$517
$80 – $1,314
Bright Health 39
$520
$422 – $3,449
Independent Health 23
$548
$307 – $845
Oscar Health 148
$558
$145 – $1,787
EmblemHealth 66
$566
$266 – $943
Kaiser Permanente 205
$606
$324 – $3,797
MVP Health Care 66
$606
$97 – $2,956
Cigna 974
$750
$330 – $3,839
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1046
$766
$178 – $3,316
Humana 866
$784
$218 – $2,010
HealthPartners 188
$813
$123 – $3,314
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 117
$819
$552 – $4,041
Aetna 1222
$1,003
$212 – $3,461
Medica 162
$1,203
$170 – $3,662
Healthcare Highways 32
$1,351
$293 – $3,157
Security Health Plan 50
$1,473
$171 – $3,432
Sanford Health Plan 54
$1,578
$223 – $3,270
Health Net 265
$1,723
$242 – $6,744
Coventry 127
$2,479
$268 – $4,478
MultiPlan / PHCS network 722
$2,897
$581 – $6,364
AvMed 64
$3,110
$1,080 – $3,533

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
Rhode Island$568
Arizona$577
Tennessee$637
Maine$754
New Jersey$863
Louisiana$881

Prices by city

Prices by state

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
Noriko Salamon, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA72
Stephen Cai, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA64
Ameera Ismail, M.B., CH.B.Diagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA45
Whitney Pope, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA33
Juan Villablanca, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA30
Milos Cekic, M.D., PH.D.Diagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA26
Michael Linetsky, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA24
Sumit Dua, M.D, M.B.ADiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA21
Banafsheh Salehi, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA19
Ronald Homer, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA19
Avetis Azizyan, M.,D.Diagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA16
Daniel Lee, MDDiagnostic RadiologyBurbank, CA12

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover MRA of the brain with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRA of the brain with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $226. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $45 — 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 1915 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,922, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,685, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $705, a Medicare rate of about $226. Most cash prices fall between $586 and $6,062 — 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 MRA of the brain with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 1915 US hospitals is $1,922. Most hospitals fall between $586 and $6,062. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRA of the brain with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $226). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for MRA of the brain with contrast?
Medicare pays about $226. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do MRA of the brain with 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.