Short answer: An MRI without insurance has no single national price. As a benchmark, Medicare's 2026 national average total for common MRIs runs about $312 to $692, including the facility fee and the radiologist's fee (Medicare Procedure Price Lookup). Self-pay prices are set by each facility and are often higher at hospitals, so get written quotes first.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) prices vary with the body part, whether contrast is used, the setting, and how the facility sets its self-pay price. Below are cited Medicare benchmarks for the scans patients ask about most, followed by how the bill is built and the federal protections that apply when you pay cash.
How much is an MRI without insurance in 2026?
Medicare's Procedure Price Lookup publishes 2026 national averages for each CPT code. They are not cash prices, but they are the best free benchmark for checking a quote. If a quote is many times the Medicare total, ask for the facility's discounted cash price, or keep calling.
| CPT code | Scan | Hospital outpatient total | Facility fee | Doctor (radiologist) fee | ASC total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70551 | Brain, without contrast | $438 | $243 | $195 | $322 |
| 70553 | Brain, without then with contrast | $672 | $356 | $316 | $508 |
| 70544 | Head MR angiography (MRA), without contrast | $457 | $243 | $214 | $345 |
| 72141 | Cervical spine (neck), without contrast | $433 | $243 | $190 | $312 |
| 72148 | Lumbar spine (lower back), without contrast | $434 | $243 | $191 | $314 |
| 73721 | Knee, ankle or hip joint (any lower extremity joint), without contrast | $447 | $243 | $204 | $335 |
| 73221 | Shoulder, elbow or wrist joint (any upper extremity joint), without contrast | $448 | $243 | $205 | $336 |
| 74183 | Abdomen, without then with contrast | $692 | $356 | $336 | $528 |
| 72197 | Pelvis, without then with contrast | $690 | $356 | $334 | $526 |
Source: Medicare Procedure Price Lookup, national averages based on Medicare's 2026 payments and copayments, retrieved October 7, 2026. Totals are what Medicare approves (Medicare's share plus the patient's 20 percent coinsurance), not a cash price quoted to an uninsured patient. Your local amount varies by location.
"ASC" is ambulatory surgical center, the second setting the Medicare tool lists. Freestanding imaging centers are paid under a different Medicare schedule that the tool does not show, so ask them for an all-in self-pay price.
Does the patient pay more for different body parts on an MRI?
Yes, mostly because of contrast and scan complexity rather than the body part alone. Non-contrast scans of the brain (70551), cervical spine (72141), lumbar spine (72148), knee (73721) and shoulder (73221) all fall between $433 and $448 in a hospital outpatient department in Medicare's 2026 averages. Scans done without and then with contrast, such as brain (70553) at $672 or abdomen (74183) at $692, cost noticeably more because they add sequences and a contrast injection.
What makes up an MRI bill?
An MRI bill usually has a facility (technical) fee for the magnet, technologist and building, and a professional fee for the radiologist's interpretation. For a hospital outpatient brain MRI without contrast, Medicare's 2026 average splits into a $243 facility fee and a $195 doctor fee. If contrast is used, the contrast agent may appear as its own line. Ask whether a quote is "global," meaning it covers both the scan and the read.
Why can a hospital MRI cost more than an imaging center MRI?
Hospital outpatient departments bill a facility fee under hospital rules and set their own self-pay prices. Even at Medicare rates the setting matters: the facility portion of a knee MRI (73721) is $243 in a hospital outpatient department versus $131 in an ambulatory surgical center. Hospitals must post standard charges including discounted cash prices and display at least 300 shoppable services (CMS Hospital Price Transparency). Imaging centers are not covered by that hospital rule, so ask them directly and compare written quotes.
How do I get the lowest legitimate price for an MRI?
- Confirm the exact order: the CPT code, the body part and whether contrast is included.
- Request quotes from two or three places, including at least one freestanding imaging center, and ask if the price includes the radiologist's read.
- Look up the hospital's posted cash price if a hospital is on your list.
- Compare with a local estimate from FAIR Health Consumer.
- Get it in writing as a good faith estimate and ask about a discount for paying at the time of service.
What are my rights as a self-pay patient?
Under the No Surprises Act, if you are uninsured or choose not to use insurance, a provider or facility must give you a written good faith estimate when you ask for one or when you schedule at least 3 business days ahead. If you schedule 3 to 9 business days ahead it is due within 1 business day; 10 or more business days ahead, within 3 business days; if you ask before scheduling, within 3 business days (CMS). Each estimate covers one provider or facility, so the facility, the reading doctor and any anesthesia group may each give you a separate one.
Keep the estimate. If a provider or facility bills you at least $400 more than its own estimate, you can start a patient-provider dispute within 120 calendar days of the first bill, with a $25 non-refundable fee (CMS). You cannot use that process without a written estimate, which is why asking for one before the appointment matters.
Can I get financial help with a hospital bill?
Nonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy under Section 501(r) of the tax code (IRS). Eligibility rules and discounts are set by each hospital, so ask for the policy and the application before or soon after the service. Many facilities also offer payment plans; ask whether a plan carries interest before you sign.
Should I use insurance or pay cash for an MRI?
If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, compare your plan's in-network price for the code with the facility's cash price. A cash payment may not count toward your deductible, so if you expect to reach it this year for other care, running the scan through insurance can still make sense. Call your plan and ask how a self-pay claim would be treated before you decide.
Related guides and doctors
See our CT scan cost guide for the CT equivalent, doctor visit costs without insurance, and the health insurance glossary. To find a specialist, use Find a Doctor or browse radiology, orthopedic surgery and neurology.