What an MRI costs when you have no insurance
What an MRI costs without insurance
An MRI, short for magnetic resonance imaging, is a scan that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body. The price you pay without insurance depends on the body part, the place and even who you ask. This page is general information and is not medical advice. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or another emergency, call 911. You can also go to the nearest ER right away.
The best public numbers we found come from a 2021 study in JAMA Network Open. It looked at the cash prices that hospitals posted online, which are the prices for people who pay on their own. For each scan it gave the median, which is the middle price when you line up all the hospitals from lowest to highest. It also gave the range for the middle half of hospitals.
- A brain MRI before and after contrast had a median cash price of $2,306. The middle half of hospitals charged between $1,394 and $3,517.
- An MRI of the lower spinal canal had a median of $1,625, with the middle half between $968 and $2,431.
- An MRI of a leg joint, such as a knee, had a median of $1,534, with the middle half between $967 and $2,298.
These prices are from 2021 and from hospitals only, so today's prices are probably different. Half of the hospitals fell outside the middle range, which means some charged less and some charged much more. The numbers show how wide the gap can be, and a real quote from the place you plan to use is the next step.
Why the same MRI costs more in one place
Most of the gap comes from where the scan happens. The Health Care Cost Institute studied 57 services paid for by job-based insurance from 2018 to 2022. In every year, every service cost more in a hospital outpatient department than in a doctor's office. In 2022 the gap ranged from 1.27 times to 13.5 times. That study covered many services and not only MRI, and it used prices that insurers paid. Even so, it shows that the building where you get the scan matters.
Other things push the price up or down.
- The body part matters, because a scan of one knee is a smaller job than a scan of the brain.
- Contrast is a dye given through a vein that makes some tissues easier to see. Your doctor decides whether you need it, and it can change the price.
- One scan often leads to two bills. The first comes from the place that did the scan. The second comes from the radiologist, who is the doctor that reads the pictures and writes the report.
- Your city and the hospital's own pricing choices also play a part.
Posted prices are not always the same as the price you hear on the phone. A 2022 secret shopper study of 60 hospitals compared online cash prices with phone quotes for brain MRI. Of the 47 hospitals that gave both, 26 percent gave two prices that differed by half or more. That is why we suggest asking by phone and then asking for the quote in writing.
Whether you need a doctor's order
Most imaging places ask for an order from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The rules differ by place and by state, so please call and ask. The clinician decides which scan fits your problem, and that is a medical choice we cannot make for you here.
According to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, an MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves and does not use X-rays. Because the magnet is very strong, staff need to know about any metal in your body or any medical implant, such as a pacemaker. Tell them about these things before the scan starts.
A direct primary care doctor or a community health center can see you if you do not have a doctor. They can decide whether you need a scan and write the order, and they may know which local places tend to charge less. A direct primary care membership is not insurance, so it does not pay for the MRI itself. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you.
How to get the cash price before you book
Since 2021, a federal rule has required every hospital to post its prices online, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hospitals must post two kinds of files. One is a very large file that lists every item and service. The other is a shorter list of shoppable services, which are planned services you can compare ahead of time. Both include a discounted cash price, but the files can be hard to read, so a phone call usually helps more.
- Get the order first, with the exact scan named, such as an MRI of the right knee without contrast.
- Reach the scheduling desk and ask for the self-pay price and the billing code for that scan.
- Ask whether the price includes the radiologist's reading or whether that arrives as a second bill.
- Ask whether paying in full on the day lowers the price.
- Phone at least one hospital and one freestanding imaging center, which is a business that only does scans, and compare the answers.
- Write down the name, the date and the price, and ask for the quote in writing.
A written good faith estimate of the expected charges is another option. Federal law says a provider usually must give you one when you are not using insurance and you schedule at least 3 business days ahead. Our guide on the good faith estimate explains how to ask. You may need one from the imaging place and another from the radiologist.
Ways to lower an MRI bill
Paying cash is not always the worst deal. A 2023 study in Health Affairs found that hospital cash prices were lower than the median price negotiated with insurers in 47 percent of cases. Even so, a few steps can often bring the price down further.
- A hospital and a freestanding imaging center can charge different prices, and the same scan may cost less at the second.
- A nonprofit hospital may have financial assistance. The IRS limits what such a hospital can charge a person who qualifies to the amount insured patients generally pay. Our guide on hospital financial assistance shows how to apply.
- A bill that has already arrived can still be questioned. Ask for an itemized bill and a lower price, and use the scripts in our guide on how to negotiate a medical bill.
- A payment plan with no interest is worth asking for if you cannot pay all at once.
Common questions
Is an MRI pricier than a CT scan?
In the 2021 hospital cash price study, a brain MRI had a median of $2,306. A head CT without contrast had a median of $1,037. A CT of the belly and pelvis with contrast had a median of $2,268. Prices overlap a lot, so compare the exact scan your doctor orders.
Can I get an MRI without a doctor's order?
Most places want an order, and the rules differ by place and by state. You can call the imaging center and ask what they accept. If they need an order, a primary care clinician can usually write one after seeing you.
Is the cash price lower than the insurance price?
Sometimes the cash price is the lower one. A 2023 Health Affairs study found hospital cash prices below the median insurer price in 47 percent of cases. That means the cash price can be a fair deal, but you still need to compare.
Will a direct primary care membership pay for my MRI?
No, a membership will not pay for the scan, because a direct primary care membership is not insurance. The doctor can see you, order the scan and help you find a lower price, but you pay the imaging place yourself.
What if I cannot pay the MRI bill?
The billing office is the first call to make, and it is best to call before the bill goes to collections. Ask about financial assistance, a lower self-pay price and a payment plan. Our guide on medical bill help walks through each step.
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or tax advice. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.