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Nebraska

Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Nebraska

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Nebraska's healthcare market operates at costs approximately 1% below national averages, making it one of the more affordable states for medical imaging services. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan in Nebraska typically pay between $108 and $415, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $214 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state maintains over 2,600 active Chest CT Scan providers across its mix of urban centers and rural communities, giving patients substantial choice when browsing all providers in Nebraska.

Average

$246

Median

$214

Lowest

$108

Highest

$415

Providers

2,647

National avg: $302Nebraska: $246

19% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Nebraska?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
MRI Brain

MRI of the brain with and without contrast

70553$208$511$7932,641
MRI Knee

MRI of the knee without contrast

73721$123$339$5042,645
MRI Lumbar Spine

MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast

72148$129$324$4772,648
CT Abdomen & Pelvis

CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast

74177$116$416$7532,223

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 71260CT 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 Nebraska

Nebraska's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall cost of living and competitive insurance market dynamics. The state's agricultural economy and dispersed population create unique cost pressures, with urban imaging centers in Omaha and Lincoln serving as regional referral hubs for surrounding rural communities.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Nebraska's population concentrates heavily in the Omaha and Lincoln metropolitan areas, where multiple competing imaging centers help moderate prices through market competition. Rural counties often depend on critical access hospitals with limited imaging capabilities, sometimes requiring patients to travel significant distances for specialized chest CT protocols. This geographic disparity creates a two-tier pricing system where rural facilities may charge premium rates due to lower volume and higher overhead costs.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology clinics throughout Nebraska, reflecting different overhead structures and billing practices. Major health systems like Nebraska Medicine and CHI Health operate extensive imaging networks that may offer package pricing for multiple studies. Freestanding imaging centers often provide more transparent pricing and faster scheduling, particularly for routine chest CT examinations.

Insurance Market Competition in Nebraska

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska maintains the largest market share statewide, followed by UnitedHealthcare and Aetna competing primarily in urban markets. This moderate level of competition provides patients with meaningful choice while preventing the pricing extremes seen in more concentrated insurance markets. Rural areas sometimes have limited insurer participation, which can reduce negotiating leverage and result in higher contracted rates for imaging services.

Physician Supply and Demand in Nebraska

With over 2,600 active Chest CT Scan providers statewide, Nebraska maintains adequate radiologist coverage relative to its population of approximately 1.9 million residents. This healthy supply-demand balance helps moderate pricing pressures and typically results in reasonable scheduling availability for non-urgent studies. However, subspecialty imaging expertise remains concentrated in Omaha and Lincoln, sometimes requiring referrals from rural areas for complex cases.

JP

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 Nebraska

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

Without insurance, patients in Nebraska typically pay between $108 and $415 for a chest CT scan, with a median cost of $214 based on negotiated insurance rates. Cash-pay patients may receive discounts of 20-40% from many facilities, potentially bringing costs below the median rate. The final price varies significantly based on facility type, with independent imaging centers often charging less than hospital-based departments.

Does Nebraska Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?

Yes, Nebraska Medicaid covers medically necessary chest CT scans with minimal patient cost-sharing when obtained from participating providers. Since Nebraska expanded Medicaid in 2020, many previously uninsured adults now have access to diagnostic imaging services. Prior authorization may be required depending on the clinical indication, so it's important to work with your physician to obtain necessary approvals before scheduling.

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

Compare prices across different facility types, as independent imaging centers often charge significantly less than hospital-owned departments. Ask about cash-pay discounts if you're uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, as many Nebraska providers offer substantial reductions for upfront payment. Community health centers and federally qualified health centers may also provide imaging services on sliding fee scales based on income.

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

Chest CT scans are typically ordered by referring physicians rather than involving separate consultation visits with radiologists. The CT scan itself costs between $108-$415 regardless of whether it's your first study or a follow-up examination. However, the referring physician visit (family medicine, pulmonology, etc.) may vary in cost between new patient consultations and established patient follow-ups, with new patient visits generally costing more.

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

Yes, chest CT scans qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when prescribed by a physician. You can use these tax-advantaged accounts to pay for the imaging study, radiologist interpretation fees, and any related copays or deductibles. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes, as the IRS requires proof that expenses were medically necessary.

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

While the CT scan itself must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telemedicine can reduce overall costs by enabling remote consultations with specialists to review results. Many Nebraska providers now offer telehealth follow-up appointments to discuss CT findings, eliminating travel costs and time off work. Some radiologists also provide virtual second opinions on complex cases, which may be more affordable than in-person specialist consultations while still ensuring appropriate care.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$131
$2,723

Office visit (CPT 71260)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1North Dakota
Range: $118$7,881
$2,723
2Minnesota
Range: $80$7,881
$2,711
3Wisconsin
Range: $73$863
$363
4Georgia
Range: $61$699
$319
5Wyoming
Range: $54$598
$287
6Nevada
Range: $80$453
$272
7Maine
Range: $93$439
$262
8Nebraska
Range: $108$415
$246
9Hawaii
Range: $67$348
$243
10New Mexico
Range: $52$505
$242
11Iowa
Range: $73$424
$237
12Vermont
Range: $49$516
$236
13North Carolina
Range: $60$443
$233
14New Hampshire
Range: $67$446
$232
15Massachusetts
Range: $64$454
$230
16Rhode Island
Range: $54$454
$226
17Alaska
Range: $54$449
$224
18District of Columbia
Range: $49$454
$223
19Colorado
Range: $55$441
$218
20Utah
Range: $54$374
$212
21California
Range: $25$521
$210
22Indiana
Range: $54$411
$206
23New York
Range: $42$443
$205
24Washington
Range: $54$384
$203
25Michigan
Range: $57$356
$195
26Illinois
Range: $64$346
$192
27Tennessee
Range: $61$333
$188
28Pennsylvania
Range: $50$389
$185
29West Virginia
Range: $64$317
$184
30Virginia
Range: $41$371
$182
31Idaho
Range: $54$321
$182
32New Jersey
Range: $41$371
$181
33Connecticut
Range: $54$389
$179
34Texas
Range: $54$345
$178
35South Carolina
Range: $54$339
$178
36Kansas
Range: $59$324
$178
37Oregon
Range: $70$291
$177
38South Dakota
Range: $134$222
$175
39Alabama
Range: $48$332
$173
40Delaware
Range: $61$273
$170
41Louisiana
Range: $48$288
$169
42Kentucky
Range: $54$335
$169
43Arkansas
Range: $61$278
$164
44Montana
Range: $54$263
$163
45Maryland
Range: $24$335
$161
46Mississippi
Range: $48$307
$160
47Missouri
Range: $64$265
$159
48Oklahoma
Range: $51$298
$154
49Ohio
Range: $41$298
$154
50Arizona
Range: $54$267
$145
51Florida
Range: $35$297
$131
CT Chest in Other States