MRI of the ankle is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2272 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
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%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$76 – $413 |
| Highmark | 134 |
$161 – $1,067 |
| Medicaid | 341 |
$71 – $1,711 |
| Medicare | 577 |
$124 – $1,148 |
| Devoted Health | 157 |
$222 – $1,253 |
| Amerigroup | 170 |
$156 – $1,039 |
| Tricare / VA | 403 |
$167 – $2,816 |
| Molina Healthcare | 561 |
$124 – $1,397 |
| Independent Health | 29 |
$93 – $915 |
| Priority Health | 58 |
$111 – $2,814 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 794 |
$170 – $1,667 |
| Anthem | 558 |
$166 – $2,043 |
| UCare | 71 |
$130 – $3,176 |
| Geisinger | 70 |
$109 – $1,727 |
| Bright Health | 40 |
$285 – $5,880 |
| Oscar Health | 172 |
$232 – $2,347 |
| AmeriHealth | 229 |
$158 – $1,737 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1540 |
$204 – $3,404 |
| EmblemHealth | 78 |
$298 – $1,131 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 97 |
$226 – $2,090 |
| SelectHealth | 48 |
$236 – $2,660 |
| MVP Health Care | 84 |
$110 – $3,356 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 58 |
$186 – $3,377 |
| Humana | 995 |
$218 – $2,640 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1278 |
$222 – $3,520 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 197 |
$250 – $4,068 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 148 |
$222 – $4,688 |
| HealthPartners | 266 |
$174 – $4,657 |
| Aetna | 1434 |
$233 – $4,237 |
| Cigna | 1159 |
$313 – $5,462 |
| Medica | 248 |
$203 – $3,844 |
| Health Net | 310 |
$265 – $5,790 |
| Security Health Plan | 64 |
$138 – $3,663 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 75 |
$222 – $3,587 |
| Coventry | 160 |
$287 – $5,817 |
| Healthcare Highways | 38 |
$654 – $3,674 |
| AvMed | 67 |
$1,080 – $3,533 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 854 |
$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
| State | Median 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.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lefkowitz, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | New York, NY | 152 |
| Jonathan Landa, DO | Diagnostic Radiology | New York, NY | 119 |
| James Choi, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Clive, IA | 106 |
| Rajendra Kumar, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Houston, TX | 101 |
| Jesse Davila, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Jacksonville, FL | 92 |
| Raul Valenzuela Perez, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Houston, TX | 89 |
| Stephen Vossler, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Grand Rapids, MI | 89 |
| Jamie Caracciolo, MD, MBA | Diagnostic Radiology | Tampa, FL | 89 |
| Mohammad Ali El Amine, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | New Haven, CT | 82 |
| Sinchun Hwang, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | New York, NY | 80 |
| Emmanuel Reyes-Salavarria, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Grand Rapids, MI | 79 |
| Jenifer Pitman, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Baltimore, MD | 78 |
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?
Does Medicare cover MRI of the ankle?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the ankle?
Why do MRI of the ankle prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
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