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.
Price comparison (median)
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%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Insurer | Hospitals | Negotiated median |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | 356 |
$10 – $124 |
| Univera | 16 |
$11 – $50 |
| Amerigroup | 169 |
$19 – $141 |
| Independent Health | 37 |
$13 – $234 |
| Highmark | 137 |
$15 – $228 |
| Molina Healthcare | 556 |
$22 – $239 |
| Medicare | 577 |
$13 – $139 |
| Anthem | 577 |
$19 – $328 |
| Workers' Comp / No-Fault | 156 |
$36 – $549 |
| Geisinger | 76 |
$15 – $394 |
| SelectHealth | 47 |
$28 – $469 |
| MVP Health Care | 87 |
$17 – $355 |
| AmeriHealth | 238 |
$15 – $283 |
| Tricare / VA | 424 |
$20 – $295 |
| Priority Health | 61 |
$19 – $401 |
| Humana | 1031 |
$32 – $428 |
| UPMC Health Plan | 113 |
$22 – $393 |
| Centene / Ambetter | 802 |
$23 – $244 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1271 |
$22 – $459 |
| Devoted Health | 181 |
$80 – $195 |
| UCare | 74 |
$22 – $442 |
| Harvard Pilgrim | 55 |
$30 – $548 |
| EmblemHealth | 79 |
$21 – $258 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1536 |
$26 – $513 |
| Aetna | 1425 |
$31 – $674 |
| Oscar Health | 172 |
$28 – $265 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 216 |
$33 – $750 |
| Cigna | 1173 |
$48 – $735 |
| HealthPartners | 275 |
$26 – $649 |
| Bright Health | 41 |
$92 – $1,483 |
| Security Health Plan | 63 |
$28 – $905 |
| Medica | 248 |
$40 – $1,768 |
| Sanford Health Plan | 76 |
$40 – $526 |
| Coventry | 162 |
$40 – $883 |
| Health Net | 296 |
$34 – $1,527 |
| Healthcare Highways | 48 |
$49 – $732 |
| MultiPlan / PHCS network | 862 |
$71 – $1,521 |
| AvMed | 66 |
$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
| State | Median 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.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Birnberg, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Newport Beach, CA | 236 |
| Joseph Ferrucci, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Worcester, MA | 223 |
| Neal Shipley, M.D. | Emergency Medicine | New York, NY | 209 |
| Yusef Haj-Darwish, MD | Internal Medicine | Norwood, MA | 208 |
| Matthew Ajluni, DO | Family Practice | Ann Arbor, MI | 194 |
| Shivam Patel, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Wilkes Barre, PA | 127 |
| Sean Calhoun, D.O. | Diagnostic Radiology | Morristown, NJ | 118 |
| Jordan Kimball, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Salt Lake City, UT | 116 |
| Faranak Moghadam, M.D. | Family Practice | Laurel, MD | 109 |
| Timothy Cole, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Richmond, VA | 95 |
| Brandon Park, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Salt Lake City, UT | 90 |
| Bruce Silver, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Evanston, IL | 87 |
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?
Does Medicare cover X-ray of the ribs (3 views)?
What does Medicare pay for X-ray of the ribs (3 views)?
Why do X-ray of the ribs (3 views) prices vary between hospitals?
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Related Imaging & Radiology
See more Imaging & Radiology.