Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Montana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Montana's vast geography creates unique challenges for medical imaging access, with many rural residents traveling significant distances for specialized care. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan typically pay between $54 and $263, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $171 based on negotiated insurance rates across 108 active providers throughout the state. Montana maintains a solid network of imaging centers and hospital-based radiology departments, allowing patients to browse all available Chest CT Scan providers statewide.
Average
$163
Median
$171
Lowest
$54
Highest
$263
Providers
108
46% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Montana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $100 | $552 | $590 | 91 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $327 | $358 | 98 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $73 | $368 | $2,851 | 350 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $621 | $1,834 | 333 |
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 Montana
Montana's healthcare costs run approximately 4% above the national average, driven by the state's rural geography and lower provider density in many regions. The Big Sky state's vast distances and scattered population centers create unique cost structures that differ significantly from more densely populated states.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Billings and Missoula offer the highest concentration of imaging centers, while rural areas often require patients to travel 100+ miles for specialized services. This geographic disparity creates cost variations as rural facilities must spread overhead across fewer patients. Transportation costs become a significant factor for many Montana residents seeking chest imaging.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based imaging departments typically charge more than independent centers due to higher facility fees and administrative overhead. Major health systems like Billings Clinic and Providence St. Joseph operate multiple locations but may have standardized higher pricing. Independent imaging centers often offer competitive cash-pay rates to attract price-sensitive patients.
Insurance Market Competition in Montana
With Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana holding significant market share alongside PacificSource and UnitedHealthcare, negotiated rates vary considerably between insurers. The relatively concentrated market gives major insurers substantial leverage in rate negotiations with providers. Rural areas may have even fewer insurer options, potentially limiting competitive pricing pressure.
Physician Supply and Demand in Montana
With 108 active Chest CT Scan providers across the state, Montana maintains adequate coverage for its population, though geographic distribution remains uneven. The concentration of specialists in Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls creates supply-demand imbalances that can affect pricing and scheduling. Rural provider shortages may lead to longer wait times but don't necessarily result in higher costs due to lower overhead expenses.
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 Montana
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Montana without insurance?
Does Montana Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Montana?
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 Montana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Montana?
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 |