X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2417 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$322median cash price · 2417 hospitals, 52 statestypically $111–$878 depending on the hospital
≈ 6.8× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$542
Cash / self-pay
$322
Insurer-negotiated
$139
Medicare pays
$47
$111$878
Median cash $322  ·  Medicare $47  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $322 — about 6.8× the Medicare rate ($47). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($95).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $542 list price could save about $220 (41%).

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
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $53 $15 — 72 min —
Ochsner Laird Hospital Union, MS $53 $54 — 102 min —
McLaren Thumb Region Bad Axe, MI $53 $15 ★ 5/5 119 min —
Ochsner Scott Regional Morton, MS $55 $53 — 82 min —
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $57 $85 ★ 3/5 185 min —
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $57 $85 ★ 4/5 135 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $58 $81 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $58 $81 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Ochsner Watkins Hospital Quitman, MS $58 $53 — 90 min —
Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo, IA $59 $20 ★ 4/5 223 min —
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $59 $85 — 102 min —
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital Nacogdoches, TX $59 $105 ★ 2/5 174 min —
Estes Park Medical Center Estes Park, CO $59 $57 — — —
Ochsner Stennis Memorial Hospital De Kalb, MS $60 $53 — 90 min —
Prosser Memorial Hospital Prosser, WA $63 $17 ★ 3/5 112 min —
Pratt Regional Medical Center Pratt, KS $63 $87 ★ 4/5 100 min —
McLaren Oakland Pontiac, MI $64 $58 ★ 2/5 103 min —
Conway Medical Center Conway, SC $64 $27 ★ 2/5 134 min —
McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI $65 $60 ★ 2/5 231 min —
Citizens Memorial Hospital Bolivar, MO $65 $98 ★ 3/5 186 min —
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $65 $98 ★ 4/5 174 min —
Banner North Colorado Medical Center Greeley, CO $65 $130 ★ 4/5 137 min —
Banner North Co Medical Center-Loveland Campus Loveland, CO $65 $130 ★ 3/5 140 min —
McLaren Flint Flint, MI $65 $58 ★ 2/5 178 min —
Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center, Inc Beatrice, NE $65 $41 ★ 4/5 92 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 X-ray of the neck (cervical spine)

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: $322; Medicare pays $47.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 375
$28
$9 – $128
Univera 16
$33
$11 – $52
Independent Health 37
$42
$12 – $191
Highmark 142
$50
$15 – $190
Amerigroup 177
$53
$23 – $131
Medicare 609
$59
$12 – $148
Geisinger 75
$65
$20 – $394
Molina Healthcare 593
$66
$20 – $253
Anthem 626
$79
$20 – $313
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 162
$85
$39 – $550
Tricare / VA 443
$87
$12 – $291
Priority Health 62
$88
$19 – $377
SelectHealth 48
$88
$31 – $362
AmeriHealth 245
$89
$15 – $243
Humana 1114
$90
$36 – $469
MVP Health Care 89
$91
$14 – $391
Devoted Health 183
$99
$62 – $144
UPMC Health Plan 116
$99
$24 – $393
Centene / Ambetter 832
$99
$22 – $392
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1356
$101
$20 – $436
UCare 78
$108
$22 – $442
EmblemHealth 82
$111
$20 – $252
UnitedHealthcare 1625
$114
$26 – $479
Harvard Pilgrim 59
$116
$29 – $459
Oscar Health 177
$131
$29 – $265
Aetna 1510
$133
$34 – $637
Kaiser Permanente 245
$137
$35 – $621
Bright Health 41
$139
$104 – $1,067
Cigna 1248
$155
$51 – $683
HealthPartners 290
$161
$25 – $552
Medica 260
$207
$39 – $574
Security Health Plan 66
$211
$38 – $471
Sanford Health Plan 85
$244
$40 – $552
Health Net 341
$307
$36 – $977
Coventry 171
$367
$41 – $909
Healthcare Highways 51
$381
$114 – $663
MultiPlan / PHCS network 927
$467
$67 – $1,181
AvMed 68
$670
$137 – $1,464

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
Arkansas$120
Rhode Island$135
Puerto Rico$142
New Jersey$150
Tennessee$152
Mississippi$152

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYCincinnati, OHLos Angeles, CASacramento, CABrooklyn, NYFort Worth, TXKansas City, MOOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHNashville, TNOmaha, NESaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioWisconsinNew YorkPennsylvaniaFloridaIllinoisMinnesotaMichiganNorth CarolinaLouisianaGeorgiaTennesseeIowaMissouriNebraskaColoradoOklahomaArkansasKansasArizonaIndianaKentuckySouth DakotaVirginiaMarylandWashingtonNew JerseyMississippiMassachusettsWest VirginiaMaineAlabamaSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaMontanaOregonIdahoConnecticutNew HampshireNevadaUtahNew MexicoPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

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
Nathan Bennington, D.O.Diagnostic RadiologyPortsmouth, OH679
Aaron Broadwell, MDRheumatologyShreveport, LA446
Ravi Prasad, MDDiagnostic RadiologyWest Hollywood, CA394
Larry Broadwell, MDRheumatologyShreveport, LA394
Terrance Peabody, MDOrthopedic SurgeryBurr Ridge, IL382
Antonio Nelson, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyOwings Mills, MD366
Kim Podolnick, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyGarden City, NY337
Charles Wennogle, MDDiagnostic RadiologyOcoee, FL324
Dilraj Ghumman, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyPontiac, MI304
Mark Golub, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyCharlottesville, VA257
Simon Chao, MDOrthopedic SurgeryNorth Easton, MA252
Sean Kuyper, MDDiagnostic RadiologyJacksonville, FL246

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the neck (cervical spine)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the neck (cervical spine). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $47. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $9 — 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 2417 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $322, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $542, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $139, a Medicare rate of about $47. Most cash prices fall between $111 and $878 — 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 X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2417 US hospitals is $322. Most hospitals fall between $111 and $878. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the neck (cervical spine)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $47). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the neck (cervical spine)?
Medicare pays about $47. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) 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.

Related Imaging & Radiology

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See more Imaging & Radiology.