Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Connecticut
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Connecticut's concentrated healthcare market, anchored by major academic medical centers like Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare, creates significant price variation for Brain MRI services across the state. Patients typically pay between $55 and $777 for a Brain MRI visit, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $178, based on negotiated insurance rates from 896 active providers statewide. Connecticut residents can browse all Brain MRI providers to compare costs and find in-network options that fit their budget.
Average
$337
Median
$178
Lowest
$55
Highest
$777
Providers
896
30% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Connecticut?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $55 | $105 | $472 | 891 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $55 | $109 | $456 | 884 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $77 | $251 | $755 | 482 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $93 | $389 | 915 |
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 Connecticut
Connecticut's healthcare costs run approximately 14% above the national average, reflecting the state's high cost of living and concentration of prestigious academic medical centers. The small geographic area creates intense competition among major health systems like Yale New Haven Health, Hartford HealthCare, and Trinity Health of New England, while also supporting numerous independent specialists.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Connecticut's urban centers around Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport offer abundant Brain MRI specialists, while rural areas in the eastern and northwestern counties have fewer options, potentially requiring longer travel times. The state's excellent highway system makes most specialists accessible within an hour's drive, but rural residents may face higher costs due to limited local competition. Telehealth options have expanded access to initial consultations, though hands-on neurological examinations still require in-person visits.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned specialty clinics affiliated with Yale New Haven Health, Hartford HealthCare, or other major systems typically charge higher rates due to facility fees and academic medical center overhead. Independent Brain MRI practices often offer more competitive pricing, especially for self-pay patients, though they may have less comprehensive diagnostic capabilities on-site. Connecticut's Certificate of Need laws have historically limited facility expansion, potentially contributing to higher costs at existing locations.
Insurance Market Competition in Connecticut
Connecticut's insurance market features moderate competition among Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare, with additional options through the state's health insurance exchange. The relatively concentrated market means insurers have negotiated similar rates with most major providers, reducing dramatic price variations compared to less regulated states. However, narrow network plans may limit your choice of Brain MRI specialists to achieve lower premiums.
Physician Supply and Demand in Connecticut
With 896 active Brain MRI providers serving Connecticut's 3.6 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability, particularly in urban areas. This healthy supply-to-population ratio helps moderate pricing and reduces wait times compared to specialist-shortage states, though demand for certain subspecialists like pediatric neurologists remains high. Connecticut's proximity to New York City also means some residents cross state lines for specialized care, adding competitive pressure on local pricing.
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 Connecticut
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Connecticut without insurance?
Does Connecticut Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Connecticut?
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 Connecticut?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Connecticut?
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 |