X-ray of the knee Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the knee is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2390 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$277median cash price · 2390 hospitals, 52 statestypically $97–$757 depending on the hospital
≈ 6.5× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$467
Cash / self-pay
$277
Insurer-negotiated
$134
Medicare pays
$42
$97$757
Median cash $277  ·  Medicare $42  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $277 — about 6.5× the Medicare rate ($42). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($85).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $467 list price could save about $190 (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
Edward W Sparrow Hospital Lansing, MI $42 $88 ★ 3/5 299 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $42 $64 ★ 4/5 182 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $42 $76 ★ 1/5 168 min —
Sparrow Ionia Hospital Ionia, MI $42 $89 ★ 2/5 158 min —
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $44 — — 130 min —
Unity Health-Newport Newport, AR $44 — — 103 min —
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital Saint Louis Park, MN $45 $100 ★ 3/5 257 min —
Hospital De La Concepcion San German, PR $45 $14 — — —
Prosser Memorial Hospital Prosser, WA $45 $14 ★ 3/5 112 min —
Saint Agnes Medical Center Fresno, CA $46 $11 ★ 2/5 240 min —
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $47 $12 — 72 min —
Johnson Regional Medical Center Clarksville, AR $48 $43 ★ 4/5 143 min —
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $51 $110 — 129 min —
Jefferson Health-Northeast Philadelphia, PA $51 $16 ★ 2/5 316 min —
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $53 $67 — 102 min —
Three Rivers Hospital Brewster, WA $55 — — — —
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $55 $85 ★ 3/5 185 min —
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $55 $85 ★ 4/5 135 min —
Wayne County Hospital Monticello, KY $55 — — — —
Williamson Memorial Inc Williamson, WV $56 $23 — — —
Mercy Medical Ctr Springfield, MA $56 $19 ★ 2/5 275 min —
Conway Medical Center Conway, SC $56 $23 ★ 2/5 134 min —
Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital Austin, TX $58 $37 — — —
Bleckley Memorial Hospital Cochran, GA $58 $65 — 127 min —
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $58 $57 — 95 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 knee

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: $277; Medicare pays $42.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 381
$26
$7 – $109
Univera 16
$28
$9 – $45
Amerigroup 172
$47
$24 – $134
Molina Healthcare 580
$52
$15 – $232
Highmark 141
$58
$13 – $215
Medicare 607
$75
$11 – $141
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 161
$75
$36 – $430
AmeriHealth 239
$84
$18 – $245
Anthem 593
$85
$18 – $313
Geisinger 74
$85
$15 – $446
Tricare / VA 423
$86
$15 – $339
SelectHealth 50
$88
$30 – $468
Humana 1074
$91
$32 – $455
UPMC Health Plan 99
$95
$19 – $414
Centene / Ambetter 838
$96
$19 – $370
Devoted Health 159
$99
$68 – $222
Priority Health 62
$102
$18 – $326
EmblemHealth 82
$104
$21 – $234
MVP Health Care 88
$105
$12 – $397
UCare 77
$105
$20 – $354
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1332
$106
$19 – $397
UnitedHealthcare 1596
$112
$23 – $503
Independent Health 37
$130
$13 – $261
Harvard Pilgrim 57
$132
$25 – $458
Kaiser Permanente 206
$135
$27 – $618
Aetna 1490
$142
$31 – $650
Oscar Health 177
$151
$33 – $265
Bright Health 41
$155
$96 – $1,106
Cigna 1223
$164
$49 – $744
Medica 258
$166
$39 – $465
HealthPartners 277
$176
$23 – $578
Security Health Plan 65
$191
$25 – $478
Sanford Health Plan 78
$207
$35 – $426
Health Net 311
$231
$27 – $1,172
Coventry 171
$294
$37 – $943
Healthcare Highways 50
$355
$88 – $731
MultiPlan / PHCS network 884
$413
$66 – $1,366
AvMed 68
$511
$137 – $1,192

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$90
Arkansas$104
Tennessee$109
Mississippi$130
Puerto Rico$133
Michigan$134

Prices by city

Chicago, ILPhiladelphia, PABaltimore, MDAustin, TXDallas, TXHouston, TXNew York, NYCincinnati, OHBrooklyn, NYLos Angeles, CAOklahoma City, OKBaton Rouge, LABronx, NYCharlotte, NCCleveland, OHFort Worth, TXKansas City, MONashville, TNNew Orleans, LASacramento, CASaint Louis, MOAlbuquerque, NMBirmingham, ALLittle Rock, AR

Prices by state

TexasCaliforniaOhioPennsylvaniaWisconsinNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMinnesotaNorth CarolinaMichiganLouisianaGeorgiaIowaTennesseeNebraskaMissouriColoradoOklahomaKansasArkansasIndianaSouth DakotaVirginiaNew JerseyKentuckyArizonaMarylandWashingtonMississippiMassachusettsMaineWest VirginiaAlabamaSouth CarolinaMontanaOregonNorth DakotaIdahoConnecticutNew HampshireUtahNevadaNew MexicoPuerto RicoHawaiiWyomingVermontDelawareRhode IslandAlaskaWashington DC

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the knee?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the knee. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $42. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $8 — 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 2390 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $277, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $467, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $134, a Medicare rate of about $42. Most cash prices fall between $97 and $757 — 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 knee cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2390 US hospitals is $277. Most hospitals fall between $97 and $757. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the knee?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $42). 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 knee?
Medicare pays about $42. 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 knee 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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