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West Virginia

Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in West Virginia

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

West Virginia's mountainous terrain and rural healthcare infrastructure create unique challenges for medical imaging access, with many patients traveling significant distances for specialized services. Chest CT Scan procedures across the state show considerable price variation, with patients typically paying between $63.79 and $316.79, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $171.00. West Virginia has 229 active Chest CT Scan providers offering these diagnostic services throughout the state's 55 counties, allowing patients to browse all providers in West Virginia to find the most cost-effective option for their needs.

Average

$184

Median

$171

Lowest

$64

Highest

$317

Providers

229

National avg: $302West Virginia: $184

39% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does ct chest compare to related procedures in West Virginia?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
MRI Brain

MRI of the brain with and without contrast

70553$98$552$687268
MRI Knee

MRI of the knee without contrast

73721$71$327$425275
MRI Lumbar Spine

MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast

72148$79$368$418265
CT Abdomen & Pelvis

CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast

74177$76$229$1,842186

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 West Virginia

West Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and rural provider economics. The challenging mountainous geography concentrates advanced imaging services in select regional centers, creating access disparities between urban and rural populations.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington serve as regional medical hubs with multiple Chest CT Scan options, while rural counties often require patients to travel 50+ miles for imaging services. This geographic disparity creates cost variations, with urban centers typically charging premium rates due to higher overhead and demand. Rural providers may offer more competitive pricing to attract patients willing to travel for services.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers dominate West Virginia's market, particularly within major health systems like WVU Medicine and Charleston Area Medical Center. Independent radiology practices operate primarily in larger population centers, often providing more competitive pricing than hospital-based facilities. Facility overhead costs vary significantly between modern urban centers and smaller rural hospitals with aging equipment.

Insurance Market Competition in West Virginia

The state's insurance landscape includes Highmark West Virginia as the dominant player, along with UnitedHealthcare and Aetna providing moderate competition in select markets. Limited insurer options in rural areas can result in higher negotiated rates due to reduced competitive pressure. Medicare Advantage plans have gained market share, influencing imaging reimbursement patterns across the state.

Physician Supply and Demand in West Virginia

With 229 active Chest CT Scan providers serving the state's 1.8 million residents, West Virginia maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This uneven distribution creates pricing pressures in underserved areas where limited competition allows providers to maintain higher rates. Wait times for non-urgent imaging can extend several weeks in rural counties, potentially driving patients to higher-cost urban alternatives.

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 West Virginia

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

Uninsured patients in West Virginia can expect to pay between $63.79 and $316.79 for a Chest CT Scan, with a median cost of $171.00. Many imaging centers offer cash-pay discounts of 20-40% for patients who pay at the time of service. Rural facilities often provide more competitive self-pay rates compared to hospital-based urban centers.

Does West Virginia Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?

Yes, West Virginia expanded Medicaid covers medically necessary Chest CT Scan procedures with minimal cost-sharing for eligible patients. Prior authorization may be required for certain imaging studies to ensure medical necessity. Coverage includes both diagnostic scans and follow-up imaging for ongoing conditions when ordered by a participating provider.

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

Compare prices across different facility types, as independent imaging centers often cost less than hospital-based services. Ask about self-pay discounts and payment plans if you're uninsured or have a high deductible. Community health centers and rural hospitals may offer sliding fee scales based on income for qualifying patients.

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

The Chest CT Scan procedure itself typically costs between $63.79 and $316.79 regardless of whether it's ordered during an initial or follow-up visit. However, the physician consultation fees may vary, with initial consultations often including more comprehensive evaluation time. Follow-up visits focused on reviewing imaging results may have lower professional fees compared to new patient encounters.

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

Yes, Chest CT Scan procedures are qualified medical expenses eligible for Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account reimbursement. You can use these pre-tax dollars for both the imaging procedure and related physician consultation fees. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes and account reimbursement.

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

While the actual CT scan must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telemedicine consultations can reduce overall costs by eliminating travel time for follow-up visits to review results. Many West Virginia providers offer virtual consultations for discussing imaging findings and treatment plans. This hybrid approach is particularly valuable for rural patients who would otherwise travel long distances for routine follow-up 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