Eli Porter
So you have heard that you might need an MRI, your first thought probably will be how much is an MRI without insurance? Well, we guess the answer will really surprise you. Prices of MRIs in the US can be anywhere from $400 to $12,000, depending on the location and body part being scanned. According to Healthcare Bluebook, the average out-of-pocket MRI cost is about $1,325. That is quite a whopping amount for anyone who will pay it from his own pocket. Continue reading to learn about the reasons behind these costs and ways you can bring them down.
Table of Contents
What Is the Average Cost of an MRI Without Insurance?
MRI costs are not stable at all. Depending on your location, the type of facility, and which body part is being scanned, almost everything can change. Below is a broad overview to help you get a gist of things.
How Much Does an MRI Cost by Body Part?
| Body Part | Average Cost (No Insurance) |
| Brain MRI | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Spine MRI | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Knee MRI | $700 – $4,000 |
| Shoulder MRI | $700 – $3,500 |
| Abdominal MRI | $1,500 – $12,000 |
| Pelvic MRI | $1,000 – $7,000 |
| Chest MRI | $1,000 – $5,000 |
These are estimates. Your actual cost depends on your location, facility, and whether contrast dye is used.
What Factors Drive the Cost Up?
Some elements impact your final bill:
- Type of facility – Hospital MRI prices are almost always higher than those at separate imaging centers.
- Location – Cities generally charge more than suburbs or the countryside
- Contrast or non-contrast – Adding contrast dye in MRI raises the cost by $200 to $500 on average
- Open or closed MRI – Open MRI machines (usually for claustrophobic patients) sometimes cost less
- Scan time – A session on weekends or late at night may be subject to extra charges
Why Do MRI Prices Vary So Much?
This definitely ranks as one of the most baffling aspects of US healthcare. An MRI doesn’t come with a sticker for a set price. Hospitals do the haggling with the insurance companies for different rates. If you’re uninsured, you’ll probably get the highest “chargemaster” rate being quoted.
One local imaging center may charge you $400 for the same MRI that a hospital just a few miles away could charge you $4,000. That’s the harsh truth of the US medical price system.
Where Can You Get a Cheaper MRI?
You have actual choices. Don’t simply settle for the first figure you are given.
- Freestanding imaging centers – These places are almost always a lot cheaper than hospitals. You can find some good examples at RadNet, SimonMed, or other local independent centers.
- Community health centers – Federally qualified health centers provide sliding-scale fees that vary according to one’s income
- Teaching hospitals – Due to their training programs, they may give you a discounted rate.
- Telehealth referrals – Online doctors can, in some cases, request an MRI at a discount through a partner facility
- Price comparison tools – Platforms like Healthcare Bluebook, MDsave, and New Choice Health help you to see and compare prices of MRIs near your location.
Can You Negotiate an MRI Price?
Absolutely, in fact, it’s something you should do. Lots of people do not realize this, but prices for medical procedures are often negotiable.
Tips for Negotiating Your MRI Cost
- Call in advance and inquire what the self-pay rate is – Most centers have a separate lower price for patients paying cash that is never advertised.
- Query about installments – Most centers will allow you to pay the cost over several months without any interest
- Paying in full – Requesting a discount by paying the entire amount before the scan sometimes gives you a price reduction of 10% to 40%
- Do price comparison – Don’t book a scan without getting the prices of at least 3 different centers
Some centers even display their cash prices on the internet. Don’t just assume the price you’re given is non-negotiable; always ask.
Are There Any Programs That Help With MRI Costs?
If you cannot come up with the money for an MRI, then you might want to consider these alternatives.
- Medicaid – Provided you meet the eligibility criteria related to income, your MRI may be mostly or fully covered by Medicaid.
- CHIP – For children of parents who have low incomes yet are not eligible for Medicaid
- Hospital financial assistance programs – Nonprofit hospital(s) are mandated to provide charity care
- Nonprofit medical charities – For example, HealthWell Foundation or NeedyMeds may assist in covering imaging costs
- Clinical trials – If your illness meets the criteria, you might be given imaging for free as part of a research project
You shouldn’t be shy about seeking financial help. Hospitals have this work on a daily basis, so they even designate staff to assist you.
What Happens If You Skip an MRI Because of Cost?
This is something one should really consider. Not getting a medically necessary MRI could mean that the diagnosis is delayed. Such a delay can cause what could have been easily treated to evolve into a serious condition, which would also require much more expensive treatment.
Finding the cancer late or suffering from spine problems without being diagnosed could mean that you will have to pay much more than the price of one MRI. That ‘saving now’ is probably not worth the ‘risk later’ to you.
Is Health Insurance Really Worth It for Imaging Costs?
Insurance reduces the cost of your MRI by a large margin. The majority of insured individuals only have to cover their copay or deductible, which normally amounts to a $100-$500 range. When uninsured, you may have to pay the full price.
Just imagine: the cost of one MRI without insurance can be more than that of a whole year of a mid-tier health insurance policy. If you require several scans or have regular health issues, insurance is undoubtedly a more reasonable decision from a financial point of view.
What Does Insurance Typically Cover for MRIs?
- Most insurance plans will pay for MRIs that have been approved as medically necessary.
- Typically, you will have to get a referral or have your doctor’s authorization before the MRI.
- Your share of the cost depends on whether the facility belongs to your insurance network.
- Lower premium plans usually have higher deductibles, so the amount you spend out of pocket can be quite different.
What Should You Do Before Booking an MRI Without Insurance?
Make sure you do this before setting the date:
- Obtain the exact CPT billing code from your physician (in general, 70553 is the code for brain MRI with contrast)
- Having the above code, get price quotations from different establishments.
- Inquire at each place about their self-pay or cash-pay rate.
- Find out if the physician giving the order for the MRI is affiliated with a hospital or imaging center where the rates are usually lower.
- Discuss with your doctor the possibility of having a cheaper form of imaging first, like an X-ray or an ultrasound.
Doing some planning like this can result in savings of several hundred dollars for you.
Related: Is Life Insurance Taxable? Complete 2025 Guide
Take Control of Your Healthcare Costs
You are now aware that the price of an MRI without insurance can be anywhere between a few hundred and several thousand dollars. The determining factors are the location, the body part to be scanned, and whether you bargain or not.
However, the truth is: paying the full price every single time is impossible to carry on with. A single health issue could suddenly exhaust your entire savings.
Getting health insurance is surely the most beneficial thing you can do today. Head over to insurancheck.com to find and compare health insurance policies that will suit both your budget and your requirements. It only takes a few minutes, and the right plan will ensure that you never have to sacrifice your health for your finances.
