Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Pennsylvania
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Pennsylvania's healthcare landscape features concentrated markets in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, creating significant cost variations for medical imaging services across the state. Chest CT Scan procedures typically range from $50 to $389, with most patients paying around $115 out-of-pocket based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 2,000 active imaging providers throughout Pennsylvania, patients have extensive options for finding affordable care in both urban centers and rural communities.
Average
$185
Median
$115
Lowest
$50
Highest
$389
Providers
2,029
39% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Pennsylvania?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $57 | $215 | $879 | 1,970 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $55 | $134 | $506 | 1,965 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $55 | $132 | $527 | 1,641 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $76 | $215 | $753 | 1,669 |
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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's healthcare costs run approximately 9% above national averages, driven by the state's concentrated urban markets and extensive rural geography requiring diverse service delivery models. The dual metropolitan focus on Philadelphia and Pittsburgh creates cost disparities compared to Pennsylvania's 67 rural counties with limited specialist access.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro areas concentrate most of Pennsylvania's advanced imaging capabilities, while rural counties often require patients to travel significant distances for Chest CT Scan services. This geographic disparity creates higher transportation costs for rural patients but may offer lower facility fees outside metropolitan areas. The state's mountainous regions and scattered population centers limit competition among imaging providers in many areas.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging in Pennsylvania carries significantly higher facility fees due to hospital overhead and staffing requirements compared to independent imaging centers. Major health systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine operate extensive imaging networks with standardized pricing that often exceeds independent practice rates. Academic medical centers in Pennsylvania typically charge premium rates due to their teaching hospital status and advanced equipment investments.
Insurance Market Competition in Pennsylvania
Highmark, Independence Blue Cross Shield, and United Healthcare control most of Pennsylvania's commercial insurance market, creating varied negotiated rate structures across different regions. The competitive Philadelphia market often yields better insurance negotiations compared to rural areas with limited insurer presence. Pennsylvania's regulatory environment allows significant rate variation between urban and rural markets based on local competition levels.
Physician Supply and Demand in Pennsylvania
With over 2,000 active imaging providers, Pennsylvania maintains adequate radiology capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions requiring telemedicine interpretations. This robust provider network in metropolitan areas creates competitive pricing pressure while rural areas may command premium rates due to limited access. Wait times for non-urgent Chest CT Scans average 1-2 weeks in cities 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 Pennsylvania
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Pennsylvania without insurance?
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Pennsylvania?
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 |