X-ray of the elbow Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the elbow is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2351 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$276median cash price · 2351 hospitals, 52 statestypically $94–$717 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$461
Cash / self-pay
$276
Insurer-negotiated
$124
Medicare pays
$33
$94$717
Median cash $276  ·  Medicare $33  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $276 — about 8.3× the Medicare rate ($33). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($66).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $461 list price could save about $185 (40%).

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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 $42 $10 — 72 min —
Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital Tulsa, OK $42 $42 — 191 min —
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $45 $136 — 129 min —
Coffey County Hospital Burlington, KS $46 — ★ 4/5 87 min —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $47 $89 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Johnson Regional Medical Center Clarksville, AR $48 $33 ★ 4/5 143 min —
United Memorial Medical Center Batavia, NY $49 $17 ★ 2/5 167 min —
Conway Medical Center Conway, SC $49 $22 ★ 2/5 134 min —
Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff, AR $50 $81 ★ 1/5 198 min —
Hospital General De Castaner Castaner, PR $52 $30 — — —
Wayne County Hospital Monticello, KY $52 — — — —
The Women's Hospital Newburgh, IN $53 $30 ★ 5/5 130 min —
Pratt Regional Medical Center Pratt, KS $53 $80 ★ 4/5 100 min —
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $53 $84 ★ 3/5 185 min —
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $53 $84 ★ 4/5 135 min —
White Mountain Regional Medical Center Springerville, AZ $55 $80 — 134 min —
Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA $55 $112 ★ 4/5 259 min —
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $56 — — 130 min —
University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics Chicago, IL $56 $38 ★ 4/5 298 min —
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $56 $16 — — —
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $56 $113 — — —
Hills & Dales General Hospital Cass City, MI $56 $227 ★ 4/5 91 min —
Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings, LA $57 $122 ★ 2/5 104 min —
Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY $58 — ★ 2/5 208 min —
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $58 $81 ★ 4/5 174 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 elbow

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: $276; Medicare pays $33.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$22
$9 – $38
Medicaid 369
$22
$7 – $94
Amerigroup 171
$43
$14 – $126
Highmark 139
$48
$13 – $190
Molina Healthcare 568
$50
$17 – $252
Medicare 587
$63
$8 – $128
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 157
$69
$30 – $393
Anthem 576
$76
$15 – $300
MVP Health Care 87
$78
$9 – $380
AmeriHealth 236
$82
$12 – $226
Tricare / VA 415
$82
$14 – $356
UPMC Health Plan 96
$85
$15 – $366
SelectHealth 47
$85
$30 – $469
Geisinger 71
$85
$11 – $419
Priority Health 61
$86
$13 – $307
Humana 1039
$86
$25 – $440
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1298
$89
$17 – $371
Devoted Health 155
$89
$65 – $209
UCare 75
$90
$18 – $362
Centene / Ambetter 815
$91
$17 – $409
EmblemHealth 79
$104
$15 – $228
UnitedHealthcare 1561
$104
$20 – $482
Independent Health 36
$109
$9 – $256
Harvard Pilgrim 56
$110
$22 – $400
Aetna 1457
$127
$25 – $676
Kaiser Permanente 204
$133
$24 – $559
Bright Health 40
$135
$96 – $1,054
Oscar Health 173
$138
$30 – $219
Cigna 1185
$150
$42 – $730
Security Health Plan 63
$160
$31 – $438
HealthPartners 266
$163
$19 – $570
Medica 249
$165
$34 – $449
Sanford Health Plan 77
$205
$31 – $413
Health Net 307
$222
$27 – $1,339
Coventry 166
$273
$33 – $901
Healthcare Highways 47
$373
$102 – $798
MultiPlan / PHCS network 866
$428
$58 – $1,445
AvMed 67
$627
$159 – $1,282

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$91
Tennessee$104
Mississippi$104
Arkansas$105
New Jersey$117
Puerto Rico$133

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 X-ray of the elbow?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the elbow. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $33. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $7 — 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 2351 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $276, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $461, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $124, a Medicare rate of about $33. Most cash prices fall between $94 and $717 — 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 elbow cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2351 US hospitals is $276. Most hospitals fall between $94 and $717. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the elbow?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $33). 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 elbow?
Medicare pays about $33. 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 elbow 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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