MRI of the ankle Cost by Hospital

MRI of the ankle is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2272 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,136median cash price · 2272 hospitals, 52 statestypically $637–$6,101 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,639
Cash / self-pay
$2,136
Insurer-negotiated
$828
Medicare pays
$261
$637$6,101
Median cash $2,136  ·  Medicare $261  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,136 — about 8.2× the Medicare rate ($261). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($522).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,639 list price could save about $1,503 (41%).

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
Pih Health Downey Hospital Downey, CA $324 $721 ★ 4/5 242 min —
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $325 $537 — 279 min —
Saint John Hospital Leavenworth, KS $328 $329 ★ 3/5 126 min —
Providence Medical Center Kansas City, KS $328 $347 ★ 3/5 122 min —
East Liverpool City Hospital East Liverpool, OH $328 $328 ★ 3/5 132 min —
Coshocton Regional Medical Center Coshocton, OH $328 $336 ★ 4/5 149 min —
Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA $343 $353 ★ 3/5 150 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 —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $346 $366 ★ 3/5 257 min —
Garden City Hospital Garden City, MI $346 $237 ★ 2/5 114 min —
Advanced Surgical Hospital Washington, PA $346 $346 — — —
Southern Regional Medical Center Riverdale, GA $348 $348 ★ 1/5 265 min —
Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Inc Newnan, GA $348 $348 ★ 5/5 — —
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches, LA $348 $348 ★ 4/5 158 min —
Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc Harlingen, TX $348 $368 ★ 2/5 145 min —
Knapp Medical Center Weslaco, TX $348 $349 ★ 5/5 133 min —
Mission Regional Medical Center Mission, TX $348 $449 ★ 4/5 152 min —
Dallas Medical Center Dallas, TX $348 $349 ★ 3/5 137 min —
Dallas Regional Medical Center Mesquite, TX $348 $349 ★ 3/5 166 min —
Harlingen Medical Center Harlingen, TX $348 $368 ★ 4/5 156 min —
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $3,804 ★ 5/5 — —
Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA $356 $357 ★ 2/5 186 min —
St Joseph's Medical Center Yonkers, NY $363 $505 ★ 1/5 201 min —
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $366 $487 ★ 2/5 104 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 MRI of the ankle

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: $2,136; Medicare pays $261.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$220
$76 – $413
Highmark 134
$317
$161 – $1,067
Medicaid 341
$330
$71 – $1,711
Medicare 577
$332
$124 – $1,148
Devoted Health 157
$339
$222 – $1,253
Amerigroup 170
$348
$156 – $1,039
Tricare / VA 403
$348
$167 – $2,816
Molina Healthcare 561
$353
$124 – $1,397
Independent Health 29
$360
$93 – $915
Priority Health 58
$401
$111 – $2,814
Centene / Ambetter 794
$401
$170 – $1,667
Anthem 558
$497
$166 – $2,043
UCare 71
$503
$130 – $3,176
Geisinger 70
$511
$109 – $1,727
Bright Health 40
$524
$285 – $5,880
Oscar Health 172
$558
$232 – $2,347
AmeriHealth 229
$559
$158 – $1,737
UnitedHealthcare 1540
$563
$204 – $3,404
EmblemHealth 78
$566
$298 – $1,131
UPMC Health Plan 97
$581
$226 – $2,090
SelectHealth 48
$586
$236 – $2,660
MVP Health Care 84
$598
$110 – $3,356
Harvard Pilgrim 58
$611
$186 – $3,377
Humana 995
$685
$218 – $2,640
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1278
$774
$222 – $3,520
Kaiser Permanente 197
$785
$250 – $4,068
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 148
$880
$222 – $4,688
HealthPartners 266
$1,139
$174 – $4,657
Aetna 1434
$1,148
$233 – $4,237
Cigna 1159
$1,248
$313 – $5,462
Medica 248
$1,360
$203 – $3,844
Health Net 310
$1,467
$265 – $5,790
Security Health Plan 64
$1,634
$138 – $3,663
Sanford Health Plan 75
$1,750
$222 – $3,587
Coventry 160
$1,828
$287 – $5,817
Healthcare Highways 38
$2,080
$654 – $3,674
AvMed 67
$3,086
$1,080 – $3,533
MultiPlan / PHCS network 854
$3,249
$701 – $7,959

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$657
New Jersey$862
Tennessee$1,015
Arkansas$1,029
Maryland$1,059
Arizona$1,125

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
Robert Lefkowitz, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY152
Jonathan Landa, DODiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY119
James Choi, MDDiagnostic RadiologyClive, IA106
Rajendra Kumar, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX101
Jesse Davila, MDDiagnostic RadiologyJacksonville, FL92
Raul Valenzuela Perez, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX89
Stephen Vossler, MDDiagnostic RadiologyGrand Rapids, MI89
Jamie Caracciolo, MD, MBADiagnostic RadiologyTampa, FL89
Mohammad Ali El Amine, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew Haven, CT82
Sinchun Hwang, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY80
Emmanuel Reyes-Salavarria, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyGrand Rapids, MI79
Jenifer Pitman, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD78

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the ankle. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $261. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $52 — 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 2272 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,136, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,639, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $828, a Medicare rate of about $261. Most cash prices fall between $637 and $6,101 — 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 MRI of the ankle cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2272 US hospitals is $2,136. Most hospitals fall between $637 and $6,101. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $261). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the ankle?
Medicare pays about $261. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do MRI of the ankle 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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