Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Iowa
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Iowa's healthcare landscape features lower-than-average specialty costs compared to coastal states, with Chest CT Scan services typically ranging from $73 to $424 based on negotiated insurance rates. The median cost for imaging services sits at $214, reflecting the state's mix of rural critical access hospitals and urban medical centers. With 424 active Chest CT Scan providers across Iowa's 99 counties, patients can browse options from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids to find affordable care.
Average
$237
Median
$214
Lowest
$73
Highest
$424
Providers
424
22% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Iowa?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $95 | $511 | $842 | 409 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $80 | $291 | $516 | 523 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $85 | $253 | $513 | 553 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $85 | $361 | $753 | 483 |
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.
Why Chest CT Scan Visit Costs Vary Across Iowa
Iowa's healthcare costs run approximately 9% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive insurance market dominated by regional players. The state's mix of urban medical centers in Des Moines and Iowa City alongside rural critical access hospitals creates significant cost variations across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Iowa's metropolitan areas like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City concentrate multiple imaging centers, creating competitive pricing, while rural counties may have only one or two providers within reasonable driving distance. This geographic disparity means rural patients may face higher costs due to limited competition, though some rural hospitals offer competitive cash-pay rates to attract volume. Travel costs to urban centers can offset savings for patients in Iowa's more remote agricultural regions.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers in Iowa typically charge 40-60% more than independent radiology clinics due to higher overhead costs and facility fees. Major health systems like UnityPoint Health and Mercy Health Network operate numerous imaging centers across Iowa, with pricing that reflects their market position and operational scale. Independent imaging centers often offer more competitive self-pay rates and flexible payment options compared to hospital-based facilities.
Insurance Market Competition in Iowa
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield maintains significant market share in Iowa alongside UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, creating moderate insurer competition that helps negotiate reasonable imaging rates. The state's relatively concentrated insurance market means fewer competing networks, which can limit provider choices but also creates more predictable pricing structures. Rural areas may have even fewer insurer options, potentially affecting negotiated rates and patient costs.
Physician Supply and Demand in Iowa
With 424 active Chest CT Scan providers serving Iowa's 3.2 million residents, the state maintains adequate radiologist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution affects both pricing and access, with urban areas offering competitive rates due to provider density while rural areas may charge premium rates due to limited competition. Wait times for non-urgent chest imaging are generally reasonable in metropolitan areas but may extend longer in underserved rural counties.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chest CT Scan Costs in Iowa
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Iowa without insurance?
Does Iowa Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Iowa?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Chest CT Scan visit in Iowa?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Iowa?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 71260)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $118 – $7,881 | $2,723 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $7,881 | $2,711 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $863 | $363 |
| 4 | Georgia Range: $61 – $699 | $319 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $54 – $598 | $287 |
| 6 | Nevada Range: $80 – $453 | $272 |
| 7 | Maine Range: $93 – $439 | $262 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $108 – $415 | $246 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $67 – $348 | $243 |
| 10 | New Mexico Range: $52 – $505 | $242 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $73 – $424 | $237 |
| 12 | Vermont Range: $49 – $516 | $236 |
| 13 | North Carolina Range: $60 – $443 | $233 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $67 – $446 | $232 |
| 15 | Massachusetts Range: $64 – $454 | $230 |
| 16 | Rhode Island Range: $54 – $454 | $226 |
| 17 | Alaska Range: $54 – $449 | $224 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $49 – $454 | $223 |
| 19 | Colorado Range: $55 – $441 | $218 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $54 – $374 | $212 |
| 21 | California Range: $25 – $521 | $210 |
| 22 | Indiana Range: $54 – $411 | $206 |
| 23 | New York Range: $42 – $443 | $205 |
| 24 | Washington Range: $54 – $384 | $203 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $57 – $356 | $195 |
| 26 | Illinois Range: $64 – $346 | $192 |
| 27 | Tennessee Range: $61 – $333 | $188 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania Range: $50 – $389 | $185 |
| 29 | West Virginia Range: $64 – $317 | $184 |
| 30 | Virginia Range: $41 – $371 | $182 |
| 31 | Idaho Range: $54 – $321 | $182 |
| 32 | New Jersey Range: $41 – $371 | $181 |
| 33 | Connecticut Range: $54 – $389 | $179 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $54 – $345 | $178 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $54 – $339 | $178 |
| 36 | Kansas Range: $59 – $324 | $178 |
| 37 | Oregon Range: $70 – $291 | $177 |
| 38 | South Dakota Range: $134 – $222 | $175 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $48 – $332 | $173 |
| 40 | Delaware Range: $61 – $273 | $170 |
| 41 | Louisiana Range: $48 – $288 | $169 |
| 42 | Kentucky Range: $54 – $335 | $169 |
| 43 | Arkansas Range: $61 – $278 | $164 |
| 44 | Montana Range: $54 – $263 | $163 |
| 45 | Maryland Range: $24 – $335 | $161 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $48 – $307 | $160 |
| 47 | Missouri Range: $64 – $265 | $159 |
| 48 | Oklahoma Range: $51 – $298 | $154 |
| 49 | Ohio Range: $41 – $298 | $154 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $54 – $267 | $145 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $297 | $131 |