Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in North Carolina
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
North Carolina's healthcare landscape features over 2,500 active Chest CT Scan providers across both academic medical centers and community hospitals, creating competitive pricing despite the state's decision not to expand Medicaid. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan typically pay between $59.92 and $443.10, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $195.94 based on negotiated insurance rates. Browse all Chest CT Scan providers in North Carolina to compare costs and find the most affordable option for your needs.
Average
$233
Median
$196
Lowest
$60
Highest
$443
Providers
2,569
23% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in North Carolina?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $99 | $367 | $988 | 2,437 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $65 | $224 | $580 | 2,625 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $212 | $572 | 2,593 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $269 | $648 | 2,798 |
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 North Carolina
North Carolina's Chest CT Scan costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's competitive imaging market and lower overall healthcare costs compared to neighboring states. The growing ambulatory surgery center market provides additional pricing pressure on hospital-based imaging departments throughout the Research Triangle and Charlotte metro areas.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metros concentrate most imaging specialists, while rural counties in eastern and western North Carolina often require patients to travel significant distances for specialized chest imaging. This geographic disparity creates higher effective costs for rural patients despite lower base pricing at rural facilities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based imaging centers affiliated with major health systems like Atrium Health or Duke Health typically charge 30-50% more than independent imaging centers for identical Chest CT Scan procedures. Academic medical centers command premium pricing due to their research missions and subspecialty expertise in complex thoracic conditions.
Insurance Market Competition in North Carolina
BCBS NC dominates the individual market with limited competition from UHC and Aetna, particularly in rural counties where patients may have only one insurer option. This market concentration allows insurers to negotiate aggressively with providers, keeping rates competitive but potentially limiting provider networks in underserved areas.
Physician Supply and Demand in North Carolina
With over 2,500 active providers offering Chest CT Scan services, North Carolina maintains adequate capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This relatively strong supply in metro areas helps keep wait times short and pricing competitive, though rural patients may face longer delays and higher travel costs.
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 North Carolina
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in North Carolina without insurance?
Does North Carolina Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in North Carolina?
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 |