Nuclear cardiac stress test Cost by Hospital

Nuclear cardiac stress test is a heart-related test or procedure. Prices are from 2122 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$3,174median cash price · 2122 hospitals, 52 statestypically $1,206–$7,424 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.4× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$5,633
Cash / self-pay
$3,174
Insurer-negotiated
$1,657
Medicare pays
$428
$1,206$7,424
Median cash $3,174  ·  Medicare $428  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $3,174 — about 7.4× the Medicare rate ($428). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($856).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $5,633 list price could save about $2,459 (44%).

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
Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA $484 $990 ★ 4/5 197 min —
Bayside Community Hospital Anahuac, TX $485 $279 — 106 min —
Good Shepherd Medical Center Hermiston, OR $490 $7,145 — 151 min —
McLaren Greater Lansing Lansing, MI $498 $109 ★ 3/5 261 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $512 $1,166 ★ 2/5 316 min —
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $514 $564 ★ 3/5 190 min —
North Texas Medical Center Gainesville, TX $543 $1,243 ★ 4/5 117 min —
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $552 $517 ★ 2/5 109 min —
Mount St. Mary's Hospital & Health Center Lewiston, NY $555 $309 ★ 2/5 156 min —
McLaren Northern Michigan Petoskey, MI $559 $100 ★ 3/5 157 min —
Regional One Health Memphis, TN $566 $1,184 ★ 1/5 294 min —
Banner Heart Hospital Mesa, AZ $575 $1,531 ★ 2/5 — —
Cox Medical Center Branson Branson, MO $575 $1,403 ★ 4/5 218 min —
McLaren Thumb Region Bad Axe, MI $580 $75 ★ 5/5 119 min —
McLaren Macomb Mount Clemens, MI $604 $109 ★ 1/5 172 min —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $622 $1,300 ★ 3/5 257 min —
McLaren Oakland Pontiac, MI $642 $91 ★ 2/5 103 min —
Avoyelles Hospital Marksville, LA $647 $2,155 ★ 1/5 77 min —
Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Inc Gassaway, WV $662 — — 102 min —
Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center Prestonsburg, KY $676 $735 ★ 2/5 190 min —
Beckley ARH Hospital Beckley, WV $676 $1,126 ★ 3/5 219 min —
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $677 $1,202 ★ 3/5 124 min —
Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN $677 $1,228 ★ 3/5 259 min —
Bsa Hospital Amarillo, TX $678 $4,743 ★ 2/5 215 min —
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $682 $424 — 279 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 Nuclear cardiac stress test

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: $3,174; Medicare pays $428.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 321
$294
$56 – $1,113
Univera 16
$350
$63 – $510
Medicare 508
$415
$71 – $1,604
Independent Health 26
$448
$79 – $2,655
Highmark 132
$462
$87 – $2,499
Amerigroup 159
$563
$196 – $1,733
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 139
$668
$140 – $4,069
Molina Healthcare 545
$689
$74 – $2,250
Geisinger 68
$749
$91 – $4,878
AmeriHealth 220
$797
$91 – $3,194
Anthem 547
$814
$91 – $3,453
MVP Health Care 81
$1,007
$81 – $4,357
Centene / Ambetter 739
$1,028
$75 – $2,248
Harvard Pilgrim 51
$1,103
$95 – $4,115
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1196
$1,105
$88 – $4,298
Tricare / VA 360
$1,143
$73 – $2,261
Priority Health 54
$1,201
$109 – $3,241
Humana 988
$1,205
$299 – $3,922
SelectHealth 43
$1,248
$235 – $5,126
Devoted Health 173
$1,285
$428 – $1,530
UnitedHealthcare 1413
$1,295
$213 – $4,486
UCare 70
$1,332
$129 – $3,385
UPMC Health Plan 103
$1,343
$306 – $5,405
HealthPartners 250
$1,363
$114 – $4,124
EmblemHealth 77
$1,414
$241 – $2,497
Aetna 1328
$1,482
$278 – $5,156
Medica 214
$1,528
$209 – $4,624
Kaiser Permanente 231
$1,657
$195 – $5,455
Oscar Health 151
$1,699
$142 – $3,251
Cigna 1077
$1,878
$428 – $6,491
Bright Health 35
$1,888
$1,208 – $6,491
Health Net 302
$1,952
$206 – $7,359
Coventry 138
$2,009
$392 – $6,215
Sanford Health Plan 71
$2,059
$159 – $4,461
Security Health Plan 59
$2,366
$197 – $3,445
Healthcare Highways 41
$2,949
$897 – $4,842
AvMed 61
$3,092
$781 – $5,947
MultiPlan / PHCS network 840
$4,283
$451 – $9,150

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
Tennessee$1,179
Louisiana$1,297
New Jersey$1,534
Rhode Island$1,591
Alabama$1,751
Mississippi$1,845

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.

Does Medicare cover Nuclear cardiac stress test?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Nuclear cardiac stress test. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $428. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $86 — 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 2122 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $3,174, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $5,633, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $1,657, a Medicare rate of about $428. Most cash prices fall between $1,206 and $7,424 — 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 Nuclear cardiac stress test cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2122 US hospitals is $3,174. Most hospitals fall between $1,206 and $7,424. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Nuclear cardiac stress test?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $428). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Nuclear cardiac stress test?
Medicare pays about $428. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Nuclear cardiac stress test 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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