Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Colorado
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Colorado's high-altitude geography and outdoor lifestyle contribute to unique neurological health patterns, making Brain MRI services widely available across the state's diverse terrain. Brain MRI patients typically pay between $95 and $1,015, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $315 based on negotiated insurance rates. Colorado maintains over 1,450 active Brain MRI providers, offering patients numerous options from Denver's urban medical centers to rural mountain communities.
Average
$475
Median
$315
Lowest
$95
Highest
$1,015
Providers
1,451
1% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Colorado?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $60 | $194 | $642 | 1,531 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $65 | $188 | $663 | 1,437 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $257 | $672 | 1,656 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $55 | $157 | $441 | 1,721 |
| DEXA Scan Bone density and body composition imaging | 77080 | $8 | $39 | $90 | 1,411 |
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 Colorado
Colorado's healthcare costs run approximately 7% above national averages, reflecting the state's high cost of living and geographic challenges in serving dispersed mountain communities. The state's unique combination of urban Front Range concentration and vast rural territories creates distinct cost and access patterns for Brain MRI services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Colorado's Front Range urban corridor from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs concentrates most specialized imaging services, while Western Slope and Eastern Plains communities often require patient travel for advanced neuroimaging. This geographic disparity creates higher indirect costs for rural patients but may offer lower facility fees outside major metropolitan areas.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers in Colorado typically charge premium rates due to higher overhead costs, while independent radiology groups often offer more competitive pricing. Major health systems like UCHealth, Presbyterian/Saint Joseph, and SCL Health dominate Colorado's market, influencing regional pricing patterns through their facility networks.
Insurance Market Competition in Colorado
Colorado maintains robust insurer competition with UHC, Anthem, and Kaiser as dominant players, plus regional options like Rocky Mountain Health Plans serving rural areas. This competitive environment helps moderate negotiated rates for Brain MRI services, though consolidation among health systems can create pricing leverage in certain markets.
Physician Supply and Demand in Colorado
With over 1,450 active Brain MRI providers, Colorado maintains adequate radiologist supply relative to its population, particularly in urban areas along the Front Range. This healthy provider density helps control pricing and reduces wait times, though rural mountain communities may still experience access challenges requiring travel to larger population centers.
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 Colorado
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Colorado without insurance?
Does Colorado Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Colorado?
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 Colorado?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Colorado?
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 |