How much does an MRI cost? Part 1

(Updated 2022) MRI prices are really complicated: Different facilities, different machines, different parts of the body. Yikes. So how do you find an affordable MRI?

Different facilities — from the hospital, to the radiology center, to the doctor’s office — charge vastly different prices for MRIs. For example, the cash price of a lumbar spine (lower back) MRI at a hospital can reach more than $6,000, while the cash price of the same test at an independent radiology facility can be as low as $300 or so.

For our sampling of cash or self-pay prices of lumbar spine MRIs in the San Francisco area, click here. For our sampling of cash or self-pay prices in the New York area, click here. For our sampling of cash or self-pay prices in Houston, click here.

For our sampling of cash or self-pay prices of lumbar spine MRIs in the Los Angeles area, click here.

Using our search tool, and on these results lists, you can see that several providers will undercut the Medicare price, which is the closest thing in the market to a fixed or benchmark price.

Different Prices at Different Facilities

There are also private radiology facilities that offer exceptionally low costs, such as $295 at RPN of California, a low-cost MRI services network with headquarters in Ontario, Calif. (Read more about RPN on our blog.) RPN has also opened facilities in Phoenix and Tempe, Ariz. (Update: RPN is now closed.–Editor.)

Some hospitals and radiology clinics post prices online. At ImageCare Radiology in Denville, N.J., the self-pay price for an MRI without contrast is $650. Many places offer an opportunity to ask for a price.

Finding An Affordable MRI

So how can you find a low-cost or affordable MRI if you’re price-sensitive?

Hospitals often charge more and ascribe those higher charges to overhead, according to Martha Bebinger, a reporter who specializes in health costs at WBUR radio in Boston. She described her discovery about the cost of an MRI in a radio interview here.

Ms. Bebinger was charged nearly $8,000 on the bill, but the insurance company paid $1,650. This is the “negotiated price,” so called because it’s negotiated by the provider and the insurance company.

Do you get more if you pay more for an MRI? The answer is complicated: maybe, but not necessarily.

There can be differences in image quality from different machines, though the most expensive ones are not necessarily the best. In addition, the MRI is only as good as the radiologist interpreting the images.

Some places that charge more (like hospitals) may have more experienced, expert radiologists. If your doctor orders an MRI, ask him or her to recommend some facilities with the best radiologists — that way you’ll get the most from your MRI.

You can also ask your provider if a lower-cost MRI provider is acceptable. In general, hospitals charge more than self-standing radiology practices.

Insurance Plans and MRIs

Depending on your provider, some insurance plans will cover the full cost of an MRI, but only at a participating provider. Some plans will leave you in charge of the co-pay (if applicable).

If an insurance provider “participates” in the network your insurance coverage uses, the price can be a negotiated price, which means it’s negotiated by the payer and provider to offer a discount. For other insurance plans, you may be responsible for a percentage of the sticker price, or a percentage of the negotiated price, or for a fixed co-payment amount, or a full amount until you’ve met your deductible.