Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Alabama
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alabama's healthcare landscape features significant cost variations, with Brain MRI services running approximately 28% below national averages across the state's mix of academic medical centers and community hospitals. Patients typically pay between $87.97 and $811.38 for Brain MRI visits, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $253.35 based on negotiated insurance rates. Alabama currently has 2,663 active Brain MRI providers, giving patients substantial options when browsing all providers in Alabama.
Average
$384
Median
$253
Lowest
$88
Highest
$811
Providers
2,663
20% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Alabama?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $53 | $163 | $479 | 2,672 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $59 | $157 | $452 | 2,384 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $71 | $202 | $460 | 2,711 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $48 | $139 | $332 | 2,695 |
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 70553 — MRI brain without contrast, then 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 70553 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 70553 (MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 70553 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri brain. 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 Brain MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Alabama
Alabama's Brain MRI costs run approximately 28% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive pressure from BCBS Alabama's market dominance. The state's mix of major medical centers in Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville alongside extensive rural areas creates distinct pricing tiers based on location and facility type.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Alabama's major metropolitan areas like Birmingham and Mobile concentrate most Brain MRI specialists, while rural counties often have limited or no local options. Patients in rural Alabama frequently travel 50-100 miles for specialized neurological care, creating access barriers but sometimes revealing lower-cost options in smaller cities. The University of Alabama system provides academic medical centers that serve as regional referral hubs for complex Brain MRI cases.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned specialty clinics in Alabama typically charge higher facility fees due to increased overhead and administrative costs compared to independent practices. Major health systems like UAB Medicine and Mobile Infirmary dominate the market in urban areas, while smaller community hospitals serve rural regions. Independent Brain MRI practices often offer more competitive pricing but may have limited diagnostic capabilities compared to academic medical centers.
Insurance Market Competition in Alabama
BCBS Alabama's dominant market position reduces insurer competition, leading to relatively standardized negotiated rates across most Brain MRI providers in the state. Limited competition from other major insurers means fewer pricing pressures, though this can provide stability in coverage and network access. The lack of robust marketplace competition contributes to Alabama's below-average healthcare costs but may limit innovation in payment models.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alabama
Alabama's 2,663 active Brain MRI providers create adequate supply in urban areas but significant shortages in rural counties, particularly in the state's Black Belt region. This uneven distribution means longer wait times and higher costs in underserved areas, while urban markets offer more competitive pricing and shorter appointment availability. The relatively strong provider supply in major cities helps keep costs below national averages for patients who can access urban specialists.
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 — Brain MRI Costs in Alabama
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Alabama without insurance?
Does Alabama Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Alabama?
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 Brain MRI visit in Alabama?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Alabama?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 70553)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $221 – $3,100 | $1,291 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $3,100 | $1,247 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $80 – $2,464 | $975 |
| 4 | Nevada Range: $135 – $1,458 | $698 |
| 5 | Georgia Range: $101 – $1,468 | $653 |
| 6 | Hawaii Range: $88 – $1,014 | $577 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Range: $90 – $1,060 | $567 |
| 8 | Maine Range: $178 – $1,023 | $548 |
| 9 | Wyoming Range: $100 – $1,112 | $537 |
| 10 | Utah Range: $94 – $1,045 | $510 |
| 11 | Nebraska Range: $208 – $793 | $504 |
| 12 | New Mexico Range: $98 – $1,063 | $492 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Range: $129 – $993 | $489 |
| 14 | Washington Range: $100 – $863 | $489 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $99 – $988 | $485 |
| 16 | Iowa Range: $95 – $842 | $483 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $95 – $1,015 | $475 |
| 18 | Indiana Range: $85 – $1,014 | $471 |
| 19 | Louisiana Range: $92 – $766 | $468 |
| 20 | Alaska Range: $97 – $948 | $454 |
| 21 | South Dakota Range: $247 – $552 | $450 |
| 22 | West Virginia Range: $98 – $687 | $446 |
| 23 | Vermont Range: $82 – $983 | $443 |
| 24 | Virginia Range: $76 – $970 | $437 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $80 – $917 | $430 |
| 26 | Rhode Island Range: $88 – $879 | $429 |
| 27 | Idaho Range: $88 – $793 | $428 |
| 28 | District of Columbia Range: $90 – $879 | $426 |
| 29 | Oregon Range: $103 – $623 | $426 |
| 30 | Illinois Range: $93 – $842 | $417 |
| 31 | New York Range: $82 – $926 | $417 |
| 32 | Tennessee Range: $109 – $823 | $417 |
| 33 | Montana Range: $100 – $590 | $414 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $107 – $818 | $401 |
| 35 | Kentucky Range: $83 – $842 | $398 |
| 36 | South Carolina Range: $82 – $829 | $390 |
| 37 | Alabama Range: $88 – $811 | $384 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania Range: $57 – $879 | $384 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $817 | $377 |
| 40 | Mississippi Range: $89 – $811 | $376 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $63 – $830 | $374 |
| 42 | Ohio Range: $78 – $813 | $373 |
| 43 | Texas Range: $90 – $721 | $355 |
| 44 | Maryland Range: $46 – $737 | $351 |
| 45 | Delaware Range: $98 – $596 | $345 |
| 46 | Missouri Range: $115 – $628 | $342 |
| 47 | Arkansas Range: $104 – $630 | $340 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $777 | $337 |
| 49 | Florida Range: $35 – $811 | $302 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $100 – $550 | $288 |
| 51 | California Range: $55 – $654 | $265 |