X-ray of the forearm Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the forearm is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2363 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$241median cash price · 2363 hospitals, 52 statestypically $88–$655 depending on the hospital
≈ 8.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$405
Cash / self-pay
$241
Insurer-negotiated
$121
Medicare pays
$29
$88$655
Median cash $241  ·  Medicare $29  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $241 — about 8.3× the Medicare rate ($29). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($58).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $405 list price could save about $164 (41%).

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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
Baptist Memorial Hospital Jonesboro, Inc. Jonesboro, AR $36 $122 ★ 3/5 128 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, Inc West Memphis, AR $36 $122 — 139 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County New Albany, MS $36 $122 ★ 4/5 144 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital North Ms Oxford, MS $36 $122 ★ 4/5 157 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Booneville Booneville, MS $36 $122 ★ 3/5 99 min —
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center Jackson, MS $36 $122 ★ 2/5 211 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto Southaven, MS $36 $122 ★ 3/5 259 min —
Baptist Medical Center-Yazoo Yazoo City, MS $36 $122 — 82 min —
Baptist Medical Center-Leake Carthage, MS $36 $122 ★ 2/5 94 min —
Baptist Medical Center Attala Kosciusko, MS $36 $122 — 77 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County Huntingdon, TN $36 $122 ★ 4/5 119 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis, TN $36 $122 ★ 3/5 182 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Tipton Covington, TN $36 $122 ★ 3/5 149 min —
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $37 $47 — 102 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $37 $47 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $37 $47 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $38 $62 — 127 min —
Three Rivers Hospital Brewster, WA $39 — — — —
Hospital Pavia Caguas Caguas, PR $40 $21 — — —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $42 $87 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids, MN $42 $88 ★ 4/5 149 min —
McLaren Flint Flint, MI $45 $48 ★ 2/5 178 min —
Coffey County Hospital Burlington, KS $45 — ★ 4/5 87 min —
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $45 $136 — 129 min —
Memorial Hospital Dumas, TX $46 $46 — 81 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 forearm

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: $241; Medicare pays $29.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Univera 16
$18
$6 – $34
Medicaid 369
$20
$6 – $105
Amerigroup 172
$36
$18 – $125
Highmark 139
$48
$10 – $190
Molina Healthcare 568
$60
$14 – $239
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 157
$60
$24 – $413
Anthem 581
$72
$13 – $283
AmeriHealth 237
$72
$13 – $211
Medicare 588
$82
$8 – $129
Tricare / VA 418
$82
$14 – $323
Geisinger 73
$83
$11 – $328
SelectHealth 47
$83
$26 – $469
Priority Health 61
$85
$12 – $297
UPMC Health Plan 98
$85
$13 – $365
Humana 1045
$85
$25 – $400
Independent Health 36
$87
$8 – $185
Devoted Health 158
$88
$43 – $157
Centene / Ambetter 822
$89
$18 – $313
MVP Health Care 88
$90
$10 – $346
UCare 75
$92
$16 – $294
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1304
$94
$17 – $363
EmblemHealth 82
$100
$14 – $222
Harvard Pilgrim 56
$110
$21 – $389
UnitedHealthcare 1572
$110
$20 – $446
Aetna 1464
$120
$24 – $551
Kaiser Permanente 203
$124
$24 – $498
Bright Health 40
$135
$96 – $791
Oscar Health 173
$141
$26 – $219
Cigna 1196
$150
$40 – $652
Security Health Plan 63
$153
$34 – $378
Sanford Health Plan 76
$176
$29 – $384
HealthPartners 267
$181
$21 – $536
Medica 251
$184
$34 – $377
Health Net 308
$224
$29 – $1,177
Coventry 166
$260
$30 – $757
Healthcare Highways 50
$331
$112 – $672
MultiPlan / PHCS network 876
$354
$75 – $1,199
AvMed 67
$558
$159 – $1,048

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$75
Mississippi$83
Rhode Island$91
Arkansas$104
Puerto Rico$117
Arizona$123

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
Milroy Emmanuel, MDDiagnostic RadiologyChicago, IL444
James Graham, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyTacoma, WA403
Chad Adams, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyTacoma, WA167
Lawrence Liebman, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyEdina, MN76
Charles Bush, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyGainesville, FL74
Daniel Moore, MDDiagnostic RadiologyDallas, TX69
Jeffrey Brooks, M.D.Orthopedic SurgeryNew Canaan, CT49
Mark Cooper, M.D.,MBADiagnostic RadiologyPhiladelphia, PA47
Martin Auster, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyBaltimore, MD44
Salman Shah, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY43
Jawad Hussain, MDDiagnostic RadiologyTucson, AZ42
Amanda Jarolimek, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyHouston, TX40

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the forearm?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the forearm. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $29. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $6 — 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 2363 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $241, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $405, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $121, a Medicare rate of about $29. Most cash prices fall between $88 and $655 — 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 forearm cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2363 US hospitals is $241. Most hospitals fall between $88 and $655. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the forearm?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $29). 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 forearm?
Medicare pays about $29. 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 forearm 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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