Illinois

Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Illinois

Name: CT Chest Cost in Illinois (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Illinois leads the Midwest in advanced imaging capabilities, with the Chicago metropolitan area housing some of the nation's most sophisticated medical imaging centers. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan in Illinois typically pay between $64 and $346, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $167 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state maintains over 7,000 active Chest CT Scan providers across urban and rural communities, offering patients extensive choice when browsing all providers in Illinois.

Average

$192

Median

$167

Lowest

$64

Highest

$346

Providers

7,047

National avg: $302Illinois: $192

36% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Illinois?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$93	$317	$842	5,703
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$69	$221	$595	7,078
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$76	$186	$553	6,155
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$80	$289	$537	8,716

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 71260 — CT chest with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 71260 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 71260 (CT chest with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 71260 covers: the provider's professional fee for ct chest. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Full data methodology and glossary

Why Chest CT Scan Visit Costs Vary Across Illinois

Illinois operates approximately 10% above national healthcare costs, driven primarily by the expensive Chicago metropolitan market and the state's concentration of major academic medical centers. The dramatic difference between Cook County's urban density and the state's rural agricultural regions creates significant access and pricing disparities for imaging services.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Chicago and its suburbs contain the majority of Illinois's advanced imaging facilities, while rural counties in central and southern Illinois often require patients to travel significant distances for specialized CT services. Many rural residents face drives of 50+ miles to reach imaging centers, sometimes leading to delayed diagnoses or patients choosing less optimal local options. This geographic maldistribution contributes to higher costs in underserved rural areas where competition is limited.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Illinois's healthcare market features prominent systems like Northwestern Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, and Advocate Health, whose hospital-based imaging centers typically charge premium rates. Independent radiology groups and freestanding imaging centers often provide the same quality scans at 30-50% lower costs due to reduced overhead expenses. Academic medical centers in Chicago command higher prices but offer access to cutting-edge imaging technology and specialist radiologists.

Insurance Market Competition in Illinois

The dominance of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, along with significant presence from UnitedHealthCare and Aetna, creates moderate competition but still allows for higher negotiated rates than more competitive markets. Illinois's insurance market lacks the intense competition seen in states with more robust marketplace options, contributing to above-average imaging costs. The concentration of major insurers means providers have limited leverage in rate negotiations, though patients benefit from broad network access.

Physician Supply and Demand in Illinois

With over 7,000 active Chest CT Scan providers, Illinois maintains adequate physician supply in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. The concentration of radiologists and pulmonologists in the Chicago area creates competitive pricing within the metro region while leaving rural areas underserved. This supply distribution affects both wait times and pricing, with rural patients often paying more due to limited local options and higher operational costs for isolated practices.

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Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Chest CT Scan Costs in Illinois

What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Illinois without insurance?

Uninsured patients in Illinois typically pay between $64 and $346 for a Chest CT Scan, with a median cost of $167 based on negotiated insurance rates that facilities often extend to cash-pay patients. Many imaging centers offer self-pay discounts of 20-40% when payment is made upfront. The wide price range reflects differences between hospital-based and independent imaging centers, with urban Chicago facilities generally charging more than suburban or rural locations.

Does Illinois Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?

Yes, Illinois Medicaid covers medically necessary Chest CT Scans since the state expanded Medicaid coverage, making imaging more accessible to low-income residents. Coverage requires a physician referral and prior authorization for most non-emergency scans, with the approval process typically taking 1-3 business days. Patients pay no copay for covered imaging services, though they must use Medicaid-approved imaging facilities within the network.

How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Illinois?

Compare prices between hospital-based imaging centers and independent radiology facilities, as independents often charge 30-50% less for identical services. Ask about cash-pay discounts if you're uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, and consider community health centers that may offer sliding scale pricing. Suburban and rural locations typically cost less than Chicago metro facilities, though travel costs should factor into your decision.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

A Chest CT Scan itself is typically priced the same regardless of whether it's initial or follow-up imaging, with costs ranging from $64-$346 based on facility and insurance. However, the radiologist consultation or pulmonologist visit associated with reviewing results may vary, with new patient consultations generally costing more than established patient follow-ups. Many facilities bundle the imaging and basic interpretation into a single fee, though complex cases may require additional specialist review at extra cost.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Chest CT Scan visit in Illinois?

Yes, Chest CT Scans qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when ordered by a physician for diagnostic purposes. You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance related to your imaging studies. Keep all receipts and physician orders as documentation, since tax-advantaged accounts require proof that expenses were medically necessary.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Illinois?

While the actual CT scan must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telemedicine can reduce costs for pre-scan consultations and results discussions with radiologists or specialists. Many Illinois providers offer telehealth follow-up appointments at lower rates than in-person visits, typically $50-150 less than office visits. Some imaging centers now provide virtual consultations for discussing scan results, eliminating travel time and reducing overall episode costs while maintaining quality care.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$131

$2,723

Office visit (CPT 71260)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	North Dakota(ND) Range: $118 – $7,881	$2,723	$118	$7,881	653
2	Minnesota(MN) Range: $80 – $7,881	$2,711	$80	$7,881	3,188
3	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $863	$363	$73	$863	4,270
4	Georgia(GA) Range: $61 – $699	$319	$61	$699	3,315
5	Wyoming(WY) Range: $54 – $598	$287	$54	$598	184
6	Nevada(NV) Range: $80 – $453	$272	$80	$453	2,690
7	Maine(ME) Range: $93 – $439	$262	$93	$439	1,705
8	Nebraska(NE) Range: $108 – $415	$246	$108	$415	2,647
9	Hawaii(HI) Range: $67 – $348	$243	$67	$348	114
10	New Mexico(NM) Range: $52 – $505	$242	$52	$505	1,300
11	Iowa(IA) Range: $73 – $424	$237	$73	$424	424
12	Vermont(VT) Range: $49 – $516	$236	$49	$516	346
13	North Carolina(NC) Range: $60 – $443	$233	$60	$443	2,569
14	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $67 – $446	$232	$67	$446	3,685
15	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $64 – $454	$230	$64	$454	1,801
16	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $54 – $454	$226	$54	$454	86
17	Alaska(AK) Range: $54 – $449	$224	$54	$449	58
18	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $49 – $454	$223	$49	$454	338
19	Colorado(CO) Range: $55 – $441	$218	$55	$441	1,721
20	Utah(UT) Range: $54 – $374	$212	$54	$374	419
21	California(CA) Range: $25 – $521	$210	$25	$521	10,242
22	Indiana(IN) Range: $54 – $411	$206	$54	$411	468
23	New York(NY) Range: $42 – $443	$205	$42	$443	32,246
24	Washington(WA) Range: $54 – $384	$203	$54	$384	3,423
25	Michigan(MI) Range: $57 – $356	$195	$57	$356	2,175
26	Illinois(IL) Range: $64 – $346	$192	$64	$346	7,047
27	Tennessee(TN) Range: $61 – $333	$188	$61	$333	2,701
28	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $50 – $389	$185	$50	$389	2,029
29	West Virginia(WV) Range: $64 – $317	$184	$64	$317	229
30	Virginia(VA) Range: $41 – $371	$182	$41	$371	2,895
31	Idaho(ID) Range: $54 – $321	$182	$54	$321	167
32	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $41 – $371	$181	$41	$371	7,333
33	Connecticut(CT) Range: $54 – $389	$179	$54	$389	915
34	Texas(TX) Range: $54 – $345	$178	$54	$345	11,171
35	South Carolina(SC) Range: $54 – $339	$178	$54	$339	1,384
36	Kansas(KS) Range: $59 – $324	$178	$59	$324	1,893
37	Oregon(OR) Range: $70 – $291	$177	$70	$291	758
38	South Dakota(SD) Range: $134 – $222	$175	$134	$222	321
39	Alabama(AL) Range: $48 – $332	$173	$48	$332	2,695
40	Delaware(DE) Range: $61 – $273	$170	$61	$273	205
41	Louisiana(LA) Range: $48 – $288	$169	$48	$288	1,374
42	Kentucky(KY) Range: $54 – $335	$169	$54	$335	473
43	Arkansas(AR) Range: $61 – $278	$164	$61	$278	149
44	Montana(MT) Range: $54 – $263	$163	$54	$263	108
45	Maryland(MD) Range: $24 – $335	$161	$24	$335	4,048
46	Mississippi(MS) Range: $48 – $307	$160	$48	$307	1,325
47	Missouri(MO) Range: $64 – $265	$159	$64	$265	5,432
48	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $51 – $298	$154	$51	$298	2,180
49	Ohio(OH) Range: $41 – $298	$154	$41	$298	4,434
50	Arizona(AZ) Range: $54 – $267	$145	$54	$267	6,691
51	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $297	$131	$35	$297	5,487