Prices at 3 hospitals in Hartford, CT, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,671 — 22% below the US median ($2,150), roughly 6.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Childrens Medical Center | Hartford, CT | $1,318 | $1,662 | — | — | — |
| St Francis Hospital & Medical Center | Hartford, CT | $1,671 | $1,454 | ★ 2/5 | 275 min | — |
| Hartford Hospital | Hartford, CT | $2,199 | $642 | ★ 4/5 | 269 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 September 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.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $1,671 — about 6.2× the Medicare rate ($269). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($538).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,199 list price could save about $528 (24%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All MRI of the brain with contrast prices in Connecticut → · All MRI of the brain with contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Hartford