MRI of the knee with contrast Cost by Hospital

MRI of the knee with contrast is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2107 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$2,307median cash price · 2107 hospitals, 52 statestypically $801–$6,745 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$3,955
Cash / self-pay
$2,307
Insurer-negotiated
$1,093
Medicare pays
$315
$801$6,745
Median cash $2,307  ·  Medicare $315  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $2,307 — about 7.3× the Medicare rate ($315). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($630).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,955 list price could save about $1,649 (42%).

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
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Akron, OH $350 $3,287 ★ 5/5 — —
Medical Center Barbour Eufaula, AL $352 $760 — 157 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $377 $706 ★ 2/5 316 min —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $378 $1,473 ★ 4/5 174 min —
Banner Boswell Medical Center Sun City, AZ $437 $1,338 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $438 $788 ★ 4/5 154 min —
Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $438 $788 ★ 5/5 140 min —
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Sun City West, AZ $440 $1,338 ★ 3/5 230 min —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $445 $799 ★ 3/5 257 min —
Coffey County Hospital Burlington, KS $450 — ★ 4/5 87 min —
Brownfield Regional Medical Center Brownfield, TX $450 $1,016 — 112 min —
University of Md Baltimore Washington Medical Center Glen Burnie, MD $453 — ★ 5/5 — —
The Women's Hospital Newburgh, IN $456 $99 ★ 5/5 130 min —
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $462 $473 ★ 2/5 109 min —
Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD $472 $482 ★ 4/5 256 min —
Baxter Health Mountain Home, AR $481 $752 ★ 2/5 184 min —
Houlton Regional Hospital Houlton, ME $481 $331 ★ 3/5 194 min —
Western Maryland Regional Medical Center Cumberland, MD $495 $825 ★ 4/5 235 min —
Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center Silver Spring, MD $496 $506 ★ 3/5 296 min —
Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA $499 $1,008 ★ 4/5 259 min —
Aspire Hospital Conroe, TX $500 $1,204 — — —
Banner Gateway Medical Center Gilbert, AZ $503 $1,474 ★ 3/5 224 min —
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Inc Annapolis, MD $503 — ★ 3/5 245 min —
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center Fort Collins, CO $504 $1,126 — 118 min —
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $511 $1,309 — 130 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 knee 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: $2,307; Medicare pays $315.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$271
$65 – $383
Independent Health 25
$335
$81 – $1,600
Medicaid 313
$432
$69 – $4,516
Amerigroup 160
$432
$81 – $980
AmeriHealth 219
$706
$208 – $2,379
Highmark 127
$707
$244 – $2,178
Molina Healthcare 518
$748
$75 – $1,595
Geisinger 65
$769
$289 – $2,883
Tricare / VA 361
$771
$234 – $2,992
Medicare 504
$771
$82 – $1,233
Devoted Health 154
$776
$508 – $1,368
Priority Health 55
$781
$111 – $2,873
Anthem 497
$801
$206 – $2,725
Centene / Ambetter 735
$816
$245 – $1,732
UCare 56
$823
$177 – $3,303
Humana 911
$830
$292 – $2,841
UPMC Health Plan 92
$838
$332 – $2,918
SelectHealth 45
$873
$422 – $3,531
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 133
$894
$179 – $4,068
UnitedHealthcare 1375
$964
$250 – $3,722
MVP Health Care 76
$974
$115 – $4,007
EmblemHealth 72
$1,013
$364 – $1,607
HealthPartners 205
$1,032
$240 – $4,052
Harvard Pilgrim 50
$1,051
$202 – $4,516
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1138
$1,058
$313 – $3,823
Oscar Health 163
$1,235
$293 – $2,065
Kaiser Permanente 186
$1,238
$420 – $4,516
Aetna 1312
$1,304
$308 – $4,543
Medica 184
$1,350
$253 – $3,742
Cigna 1074
$1,457
$454 – $7,695
Bright Health 35
$1,462
$933 – $4,654
Sanford Health Plan 49
$1,733
$294 – $3,673
Security Health Plan 47
$1,909
$72 – $4,160
Health Net 269
$2,047
$457 – $7,185
Coventry 141
$2,176
$418 – $6,491
Healthcare Highways 37
$2,438
$887 – $4,121
AvMed 64
$3,110
$1,088 – $3,808
MultiPlan / PHCS network 788
$3,717
$1,100 – $8,360

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$873
Maryland$938
Arizona$1,022
Arkansas$1,049
New Jersey$1,142
Louisiana$1,142

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
Gregory Applegate, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyVan Nuys, CA41
Veer Shah, MDDiagnostic RadiologySaint Louis, MO34
Brianna Abadie, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyVan Nuys, CA20

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover MRI of the knee with contrast?

Yes — Medicare generally covers MRI of the knee with contrast. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $315. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $63 — 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 2107 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $2,307, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $3,955, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $1,093, a Medicare rate of about $315. Most cash prices fall between $801 and $6,745 — 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 knee with contrast cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2107 US hospitals is $2,307. Most hospitals fall between $801 and $6,745. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover MRI of the knee with contrast?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $315). 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 knee with contrast?
Medicare pays about $315. 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 knee 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.

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