X-ray of the ribs (3 views) Cost by Hospital

X-ray of the ribs (3 views) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2294 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$306median cash price · 2294 hospitals, 52 statestypically $109–$838 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$525
Cash / self-pay
$306
Insurer-negotiated
$144
Medicare pays
$42
$109$838
Median cash $306  ·  Medicare $42  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $306 — about 7.3× the Medicare rate ($42). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($84).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $525 list price could save about $219 (42%).

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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
Prosser Memorial Hospital Prosser, WA $46 $20 ★ 3/5 112 min —
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center Harrison, AR $47 — ★ 2/5 149 min —
Ochsner Watkins Hospital Quitman, MS $47 $43 — 90 min —
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $48 $61 ★ 4/5 149 min —
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $48 $61 ★ 2/5 210 min —
Ochsner Stennis Memorial Hospital De Kalb, MS $48 $44 — 90 min —
Tift Regional Medical Center Tifton, GA $49 $98 ★ 3/5 255 min —
Southwell Medical, a Campus of Trmc Adel, GA $49 $94 — — —
Western Maryland Regional Medical Center Cumberland, MD $49 $130 ★ 4/5 235 min —
Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff, AR $50 $99 ★ 1/5 198 min —
Estes Park Medical Center Estes Park, CO $51 $65 — — —
Fallon Medical Complex Hospital Baker, MT $55 $86 — 102 min —
Spartanburg Medical Center Spartanburg, SC $55 — ★ 2/5 179 min —
Cherokee Medical Center Gaffney, SC $55 $114 ★ 2/5 161 min —
Pelham Medical Center Greer, SC $55 $111 ★ 5/5 177 min —
Union Medical Center Union, SC $55 $108 — 155 min —
Hutchinson Health Hutchinson, MN $57 $108 ★ 3/5 140 min —
Pratt Regional Medical Center Pratt, KS $57 $96 ★ 4/5 100 min —
Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA $57 $98 ★ 4/5 174 min —
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids, MN $57 $99 ★ 4/5 149 min —
Cordova Community Medical Center Cordova, AK $58 — — 130 min —
McLaren Caro Region Caro, MI $59 $16 — 72 min —
Sabine Medical Center Many, LA $59 $198 — 129 min —
Coffey County Hospital Burlington, KS $61 — ★ 4/5 87 min —
Mc Camey Hospital Mccamey, TX $62 $37 — — —

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 ribs (3 views)

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: $306; Medicare pays $42.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 356
$28
$10 – $124
Univera 16
$34
$11 – $50
Amerigroup 169
$42
$19 – $141
Independent Health 37
$44
$13 – $234
Highmark 137
$51
$15 – $228
Molina Healthcare 556
$65
$22 – $239
Medicare 577
$76
$13 – $139
Anthem 577
$85
$19 – $328
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 156
$91
$36 – $549
Geisinger 76
$92
$15 – $394
SelectHealth 47
$94
$28 – $469
MVP Health Care 87
$95
$17 – $355
AmeriHealth 238
$96
$15 – $283
Tricare / VA 424
$98
$20 – $295
Priority Health 61
$100
$19 – $401
Humana 1031
$101
$32 – $428
UPMC Health Plan 113
$102
$22 – $393
Centene / Ambetter 802
$107
$23 – $244
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1271
$107
$22 – $459
Devoted Health 181
$108
$80 – $195
UCare 74
$112
$22 – $442
Harvard Pilgrim 55
$115
$30 – $548
EmblemHealth 79
$123
$21 – $258
UnitedHealthcare 1536
$132
$26 – $513
Aetna 1425
$138
$31 – $674
Oscar Health 172
$143
$28 – $265
Kaiser Permanente 216
$148
$33 – $750
Cigna 1173
$155
$48 – $735
HealthPartners 275
$175
$26 – $649
Bright Health 41
$182
$92 – $1,483
Security Health Plan 63
$201
$28 – $905
Medica 248
$249
$40 – $1,768
Sanford Health Plan 76
$253
$40 – $526
Coventry 162
$257
$40 – $883
Health Net 296
$298
$34 – $1,527
Healthcare Highways 48
$353
$49 – $732
MultiPlan / PHCS network 862
$427
$71 – $1,521
AvMed 66
$644
$97 – $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
Arkansas$103
New Jersey$142
Arizona$151
Louisiana$169
Rhode Island$177
Maryland$183

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
Frederick Birnberg, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyNewport Beach, CA236
Joseph Ferrucci, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyWorcester, MA223
Neal Shipley, M.D.Emergency MedicineNew York, NY209
Yusef Haj-Darwish, MDInternal MedicineNorwood, MA208
Matthew Ajluni, DOFamily PracticeAnn Arbor, MI194
Shivam Patel, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyWilkes Barre, PA127
Sean Calhoun, D.O.Diagnostic RadiologyMorristown, NJ118
Jordan Kimball, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologySalt Lake City, UT116
Faranak Moghadam, M.D.Family PracticeLaurel, MD109
Timothy Cole, MDDiagnostic RadiologyRichmond, VA95
Brandon Park, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologySalt Lake City, UT90
Bruce Silver, MDDiagnostic RadiologyEvanston, IL87

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover X-ray of the ribs (3 views)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers X-ray of the ribs (3 views). 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 2294 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $306, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $525, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $144, a Medicare rate of about $42. Most cash prices fall between $109 and $838 — 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 ribs (3 views) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2294 US hospitals is $306. Most hospitals fall between $109 and $838. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the ribs (3 views)?
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 ribs (3 views)?
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 ribs (3 views) 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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