Mammogram costs with no insurance and free options

How much a mammogram costs without insurance

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use it to look for changes that may need more tests. This page gives general information and does not replace medical advice. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

A 2021 study in JAMA Network Open looked at self-pay prices that hospitals posted online for mammograms. More than 1,200 hospitals were included in the study. Half of those hospitals charged less than the median price, and half charged more. The study also gave the range for the middle half of hospitals.

• The median cash price for a screening mammogram of both breasts was $233. The middle half of hospitals charged between $158 and $333.
• A diagnostic mammogram of both breasts had a median of $277. Hospitals in the middle half charged between $196 and $404.
• For a diagnostic mammogram of one breast, the median was $225. In the middle half, hospitals charged between $157 and $323.

These prices come from 2021, so today's prices are probably different. They also come only from hospitals that posted both a cash price and an insurance price. A mammogram is one of the lower-priced scans, yet the gap between hospitals is still real. A quarter of the hospitals charged $333 or more for the screening exam, and a quarter charged $158 or less.

A separate 2021 study in the journal Radiology looked at the prices that insurers negotiated for 13 common imaging services. Mammography had the lowest median prices and the narrowest spread. That study was about insurance prices, so it does not tell us cash prices.

Free or low-cost mammograms

Many women who have no insurance can get a free or low-cost mammogram. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) runs the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. The program provides free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screening to women who qualify, the CDC says. Local groups across the country run the program.

Three requirements decide whether you qualify, according to the CDC.

• You have no health insurance, or your insurance does not cover screening exams.
• Your yearly income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
• You are age 40 to 64 for breast cancer screening, or age 21 to 64 for cervical cancer screening. Some younger or older women may also qualify.

The CDC has a page called Find a Screening Program Near You. Your state or local health department can also point you to the right office. The program also covers diagnostic tests and, for eligible women, help with treatment if a problem is found. Each local program may have its own steps, so call before you go.

Screening and diagnostic mammograms

A screening mammogram checks women who have no symptoms of breast cancer, the FDA explains. Usually two pictures are taken of each breast. A diagnostic mammogram is used to look into a problem such as a lump, skin changes or nipple discharge. It takes a little longer because more pictures are taken.

That difference can show up in the price. In the 2021 study, the median cash price for both breasts was $277 for a diagnostic exam. A screening exam had a median of $233. A screening exam may find something that needs a closer look. Then you may need a diagnostic exam, which is billed on its own. Ask what the follow-up would cost when you book the first one.

Your doctor decides which exam fits you and how often you need one, so we cannot choose for you. Please do not put off a mammogram or a follow-up exam that your doctor recommends.

Mammograms without a doctor's order

You can have a mammogram and get the report without a referral, the FDA says. Some facilities do not accept self-referred patients, so please ask when you call. It also says a mammography facility must be certified. You can look for the certificate on display at the front desk.

Even when no order is needed, a clinician can help you understand the results and plan any next step. A direct primary care doctor can do this, and so can a community health center. Health centers charge on a sliding scale, which is a price based on your income. A direct primary care membership is not insurance, so the mammogram itself is a separate cost. Search for a cash-pay doctor near you to find one.

How to get the best price on a mammogram

1. Try the CDC program first if your age and income fit.
2. Call two or three FDA-certified places and ask for the self-pay price of a screening mammogram.
3. Find out whether the radiologist's reading is included and how you will get your results.
4. Paying in full on the day might lower the price, so ask about that.
5. When you schedule at least 3 business days ahead, ask for a written estimate. Our guide on the good faith estimate shows how.
6. If the place is a nonprofit hospital, ask about financial assistance. Our guide on hospital financial assistance lists the steps.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says hospitals must post their prices online. The files include a discounted cash price, which is the one you would pay on your own. The files can be hard to read, so a call to the scheduling desk usually gives a faster answer. You will find a script in our guide on asking for the cash price.