Lung scan (V/Q) Cost by Hospital

Lung scan (V/Q) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2014 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,413median cash price · 2014 hospitals, 52 statestypically $517–$3,644 depending on the hospital
≈ 4.9× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,520
Cash / self-pay
$1,413
Insurer-negotiated
$744
Medicare pays
$291
$517$3,644
Median cash $1,413  ·  Medicare $291  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,413 — about 4.9× the Medicare rate ($291). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($581).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,520 list price could save about $1,107 (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
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME $224 $156 — 130 min —
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens Athens, TN $229 — ★ 3/5 148 min —
Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner Kenner, LA $235 $526 ★ 4/5 147 min —
Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $238 $522 ★ 4/5 154 min —
Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, Llc Oklahoma City, OK $238 $522 ★ 5/5 140 min —
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $239 $525 ★ 2/5 89 min —
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $239 $525 ★ 2/5 — —
Bassett Healthcare Cooperstown, NY $243 $80 ★ 2/5 199 min —
Banner Heart Hospital Mesa, AZ $249 $649 ★ 2/5 — —
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $271 $59 — 72 min —
Banner-University Medical Center South Campus Tucson, AZ $283 $631 ★ 4/5 260 min —
Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Inc Gassaway, WV $287 — — 102 min —
Avoyelles Hospital Marksville, LA $288 $959 ★ 1/5 77 min —
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $288 $583 — — —
Potomac Valley Hospital Keyser, WV $289 — ★ 1/5 119 min —
Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill Kansas City, MO $292 $395 ★ 3/5 224 min —
University Health Lakewood Medical Center Kansas City, MO $292 $395 ★ 4/5 150 min —
Western Maryland Regional Medical Center Cumberland, MD $301 $501 ★ 4/5 235 min —
McLaren Northern Michigan Petoskey, MI $302 $294 ★ 3/5 157 min —
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $303 $504 ★ 3/5 124 min —
McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI $313 $294 ★ 2/5 231 min —
Unity Hospital Rochester, NY $316 $97 ★ 2/5 299 min —
Unity Specialty Hospital Rochester, NY $316 $97 — — —
Slidell Memorial Hospital Slidell, LA $317 $493 ★ 2/5 203 min —
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Shelbyville, TN $319 $313 ★ 4/5 125 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 Lung scan (V/Q)

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: $1,413; Medicare pays $291.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 294
$229
$38 – $826
Univera 16
$255
$58 – $360
Independent Health 27
$314
$151 – $1,084
Highmark 125
$323
$77 – $1,080
AmeriHealth 221
$372
$57 – $1,156
Geisinger 67
$381
$57 – $1,997
Amerigroup 162
$438
$204 – $667
SelectHealth 45
$454
$118 – $1,427
MVP Health Care 79
$464
$54 – $1,969
Molina Healthcare 519
$478
$116 – $1,196
Priority Health 54
$522
$72 – $1,916
Medicare 493
$524
$107 – $759
Tricare / VA 368
$524
$245 – $1,551
Devoted Health 171
$527
$291 – $632
Humana 931
$549
$213 – $2,037
Centene / Ambetter 712
$554
$107 – $1,368
Anthem 522
$555
$107 – $1,953
UPMC Health Plan 103
$560
$237 – $1,988
UnitedHealthcare 1325
$605
$183 – $2,102
UCare 64
$636
$108 – $1,965
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 134
$647
$544 – $2,468
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1108
$673
$128 – $2,419
Harvard Pilgrim 47
$702
$107 – $1,964
HealthPartners 217
$709
$107 – $2,102
Oscar Health 157
$712
$109 – $1,340
Bright Health 42
$745
$319 – $2,113
Kaiser Permanente 223
$755
$291 – $2,736
Aetna 1252
$756
$222 – $2,639
EmblemHealth 74
$881
$103 – $1,312
Cigna 1021
$892
$397 – $2,561
Sanford Health Plan 66
$953
$279 – $2,155
Medica 191
$954
$196 – $2,198
Security Health Plan 55
$1,102
$107 – $1,692
Health Net 285
$1,175
$271 – $3,140
Coventry 126
$1,259
$374 – $3,036
Healthcare Highways 42
$1,440
$246 – $3,202
AvMed 65
$1,863
$500 – $4,437
MultiPlan / PHCS network 800
$1,866
$514 – $4,093

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$568
Mississippi$574
Rhode Island$601
Arizona$610
Louisiana$641
Arkansas$668

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
Alessandro Dagnolo, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA283
Andrew Keenan, M.D.Nuclear MedicineLargo, MD280
Patrick Ford, M.D.Nuclear MedicineHouston, TX261
Stephen Chiang, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX200
Gabriel Soudry, M.D.Nuclear MedicineBaltimore, MD192
Frederick Weiland, M.D.Nuclear MedicineRoseville, CA140
Julio Cordero, MDNuclear MedicineEvanston, IL139
Jess Graham, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyAlbuquerque, NM136
Penny Vandestreek, D.O.Nuclear MedicineRoseville, CA135
Kin Wong, MDDiagnostic RadiologyDayton, OH130
Louise Thomson, MDDiagnostic RadiologyLos Angeles, CA126
Abdel Tahari, MD, PHDNuclear MedicineUrbana, IL122

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Lung scan (V/Q)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Lung scan (V/Q). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $291. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $58 — 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 2014 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,413, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,520, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $744, a Medicare rate of about $291. Most cash prices fall between $517 and $3,644 — 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 Lung scan (V/Q) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2014 US hospitals is $1,413. Most hospitals fall between $517 and $3,644. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Lung scan (V/Q)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $291). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Lung scan (V/Q)?
Medicare pays about $291. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Lung scan (V/Q) 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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