MRI of the chest is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2206 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $2,083 — about 5.6× the Medicare rate ($371). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($743).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,730 list price could save about $1,647 (44%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center | Chicago, IL | $313 | $368 | ★ 3/5 | 186 min | — |
| Banner Boswell Medical Center | Sun City, AZ | $314 | $842 | ★ 3/5 | 224 min | — |
| New Orleans East Hospital | New Orleans, LA | $315 | $649 | — | 140 min | — |
| Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center | Sun City West, AZ | $316 | $842 | ★ 3/5 | 230 min | — |
| Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Llc | Hope, AR | $318 | $794 | — | 76 min | — |
| Southwest Regional Medical Center Llc | Hope, AR | $318 | $794 | — | — | — |
| Jefferson Health-Northeast | Philadelphia, PA | $320 | $333 | ★ 2/5 | 316 min | — |
| Bayamon Medical Center | Bayamon, PR | $325 | $537 | — | 279 min | — |
| Citizens Memorial Hospital | Bolivar, MO | $326 | $372 | ★ 3/5 | 186 min | — |
| Saint John Hospital | Leavenworth, KS | $328 | $460 | ★ 3/5 | 126 min | — |
| Providence Medical Center | Kansas City, KS | $328 | $518 | ★ 3/5 | 122 min | — |
| East Liverpool City Hospital | East Liverpool, OH | $328 | $361 | ★ 3/5 | 132 min | — |
| Coshocton Regional Medical Center | Coshocton, OH | $328 | $484 | ★ 4/5 | 149 min | — |
| Mercy Medical Ctr | Springfield, MA | $331 | $341 | ★ 2/5 | 275 min | — |
| Mount Desert Island Hospital | Bar Harbor, ME | $334 | $231 | — | 130 min | — |
| University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton | Saint Johns, MI | $339 | $600 | ★ 4/5 | 182 min | — |
| Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus | Denville, NJ | $340 | $405 | ★ 2/5 | 166 min | — |
| Seton Medical Center Harker Heights | Harker Heights, TX | $340 | $1,480 | ★ 4/5 | 174 min | — |
| El Paso Children's Hospital | El Paso, TX | $341 | $556 | — | — | — |
| Lower Bucks Hospital | Bristol, PA | $343 | $468 | ★ 3/5 | 150 min | — |
| Central Maine Medical Center | Lewiston, ME | $344 | $773 | ★ 4/5 | 253 min | — |
| Lake Huron Medical Center | Port Huron, MI | $345 | $346 | ★ 4/5 | 168 min | — |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City, IA | $347 | $431 | ★ 4/5 | 149 min | — |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City, IA | $347 | $431 | ★ 2/5 | 210 min | — |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia | Arkadelphia, AR | $347 | $374 | — | 94 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 chest
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: $2,083; Medicare pays $371.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Univera | 16 |
$82 – $479 |
| Medicaid | 322 |
$74 – $1,199 |
| Medicare | 542 |
$148 – $1,100 |
| Devoted Health | 177 |
$230 – $901 |
| Independent Health | 28 |
$73 – $512 |
| Tricare / VA | 404 |
$152 – $1,904 |
| Amerigroup | 169 |
$161 – $976 |
| Molina Healthcare | 559 |
$137 – $1,563 |
| Highmark | 134 |
$174 – $972 |
| Priority Health | 56 |
$103 – $2,557 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 777 |
$165 – $1,408 |
| AmeriHealth | 233 |
$110 – $1,315 |
| Anthem | 566 |
$174 – $2,173 |
| EmblemHealth | 77 |
$322 – $1,404 |
| MVP Health Care | 82 |
$115 – $2,992 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1468 |
$225 – $2,627 |
| Oscar Health | 172 |
$230 – $1,787 |
| UCare | 72 |
$114 – $3,147 |
| SelectHealth | 48 |
$233 – $2,215 |
| Geisinger | 71 |
$152 – $2,810 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 111 |
$236 – $2,625 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 57 |
$198 – $3,295 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1228 |
$221 – $3,676 |
| Bright Health | 44 |
$315 – $4,526 |
| HealthPartners | 235 |
$159 – $3,521 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 230 |
$278 – $3,659 |
| Humana | 994 |
$231 – $2,273 |
| Cigna | 1152 |
$282 – $3,882 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 141 |
$271 – $3,405 |
| Aetna | 1408 |
$235 – $3,763 |
| Medica | 211 |
$235 – $3,755 |
| Security Health Plan | 64 |
$100 – $3,303 |
| Health Net | 312 |
$291 – $7,123 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 71 |
$233 – $3,526 |
| Healthcare Highways | 38 |
$390 – $3,612 |
| Coventry | 157 |
$326 – $6,043 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 874 |
$599 – $6,391 |
| AvMed | 67 |
$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
| State | Median cash |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $676 |
| New Jersey | $776 |
| Louisiana | $906 |
| Arkansas | $950 |
| Tennessee | $953 |
| Arizona | $1,047 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudy Van Hemert, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Little Rock, AR | 415 |
| Prashanth Damalcheruvu, MBBS | Diagnostic Radiology | Little Rock, AR | 236 |
| Shobhit Sharma, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Little Rock, AR | 156 |
| Ayad Agha, D.O. | Diagnostic Radiology | Prescott, AZ | 51 |
| Aleksandr Morim, M.D. M.B.A | Diagnostic Radiology | Bronx, NY | 17 |
Does Medicare cover MRI of the chest?
Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the chest. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $371. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $74 — 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 2206 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,083, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,730, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $845, a Medicare rate of about $371. Most cash prices fall between $622 and $5,824 — 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 chest cost without insurance?
Does Medicare cover MRI of the chest?
What does Medicare pay for MRI of the chest?
Why do MRI of the chest prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.