Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Massachusetts
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Massachusetts leads the nation with the highest percentage of insured residents at 97.5%, yet patients still face significant cost variations for specialized imaging services. Chest CT Scan procedures in the Bay State typically range from $64 to $454 based on negotiated insurance rates, with a median cost of $171 across 1,801 active imaging providers. Massachusetts patients benefit from robust provider networks spanning from Boston's academic medical centers to community hospitals in the Berkshires, allowing for meaningful cost comparison when browsing all providers in Massachusetts.
Average
$230
Median
$171
Lowest
$64
Highest
$454
Providers
1,801
24% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Massachusetts?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $90 | $552 | $1,060 | 1,770 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $70 | $327 | $590 | 1,753 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $74 | $368 | $590 | 1,481 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $299 | $896 | 1,427 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts healthcare costs run approximately 20% above the national average, driven by the state's concentration of prestigious academic medical centers and high cost of living throughout the Greater Boston region. The Commonwealth's pioneering role in healthcare reform has created a mature insurance market with extensive provider networks but also premium pricing structures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Boston metropolitan area boasts exceptional imaging facility density, with world-renowned hospitals like Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's offering advanced chest CT capabilities alongside numerous outpatient centers. Rural areas in Western Massachusetts and the Berkshires have fewer options, often requiring patients to travel to Springfield or Albany for specialized imaging services.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments in Massachusetts typically charge 40-60% more than independent imaging centers due to higher overhead and facility fees. Major health systems like Partners HealthCare (now Mass General Brigham) and Boston Medical Center operate extensive networks that can command premium rates from insurers.
Insurance Market Competition in Massachusetts
The state's three dominant insurers - BCBS Massachusetts, Tufts Health Plan, and Harvard Pilgrim - maintain competitive tension that has historically kept rate increases moderate compared to other northeastern states. However, their strong negotiating position with smaller imaging centers can create wide cost variations depending on which insurer you carry.
Physician Supply and Demand in Massachusetts
With 1,801 active chest CT scan providers statewide, Massachusetts enjoys robust radiologist availability that exceeds national averages per capita. This healthy supply helps moderate costs in competitive markets like Boston, though wait times remain minimal and pricing power still favors prestigious academic centers with specialized expertise.
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 Massachusetts
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Massachusetts without insurance?
Does Massachusetts Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Massachusetts?
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 |